ISLAMABAD: Industry leaders at the Pakistan Chemical Expo 2026 emphasized the strategic importance of the chemical and petrochemical sector, saying the development of a world-scale petrochemical complex could significantly reduce Pakistan’s import bill and enhance export earnings.
Speaking at the opening session, Faheemur Rehman Sehgal, President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), highlighted the critical role of the chemical industry in supporting key sectors, including textiles, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, construction, packaging, and automobiles. He noted that the sector possesses strong potential to become globally competitive.
Chairman of the Pakistan Chemical Manufacturers Association (PCMA), Haroon Ali Khan, said Pakistan’s chemical and petrochemical market is valued at more than $14 billion annually, with a large share of domestic demand currently met through imports.
He stated that through targeted industrial policies, technology transfer initiatives, and the establishment of a world-scale naphtha cracker and petrochemical complex, Pakistan could achieve nearly $5 billion in import substitution and generate over $2 billion in additional exports within the next five years.
“The chemical industry is the foundation upon which modern manufacturing economies are built,” Khan said, adding that leading industrial nations have invested heavily in petrochemicals because they serve as a key driver of industrial growth, innovation, and export development.
Participants were also informed that the creation of an integrated petrochemical value chain could generate more than 100,000 direct and indirect jobs while supporting downstream industrial output exceeding $50 billion, making it a major contributor to Pakistan’s economic growth and industrial transformation.
