In today's episode, we sit down with Dr. Manzoor Ahmad—former Ambassador to the WTO and one of Pakistan’s leading trade policy thinkers—to explore how trade can be used as a powerful lever for economic transformation.

Building on our earlier episode on Sialkot’s export flywheel, we ask: what’s stopping Pakistan from scaling that kind of dynamism across its economy? We unpack the enduring anti-export bias in policymaking, and how protectionist policies—particularly in sectors like automobiles—have shielded inefficiency and stifled innovation.

Dr. Ahmad lays out what a modern, export-led strategy could look like for Pakistan, from moving beyond textiles into high-value sectors, to linking trade with deeper reforms in R&D, skills, and infrastructure. We also explore the global picture—what Trump’s recent tariff hikes mean for Pakistan, and whether the world is drifting into a new age of protectionism.

We close with a look to the future and analyse what countries like Nigeria and Pakistan must do now to catch the next wave.

Special thanks to our guest Dr. Manzoor Ahmad, for his valuable insights.

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