Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved a comprehensive plan to modernise the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), aiming to boost national exports and widen access for Pakistani products in global markets.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting in Islamabad on 6 November to review the authority's performance and proposed institutional reforms. The prime minister said a modernised TDAP would help local industries, including small and medium enterprises, meet international export standards and secure access to global markets for manufactured products.

Under the reform package, TDAP's mandate will be streamlined to eight core functions, its board and management restructured, and its regional network made more effective. The plan also brings in digital platforms and artificial intelligence, measurable performance indicators and independent third-party evaluations of the authority's work.

Officials presented a phased 12-month implementation roadmap covering approval, design, execution and independent assessment. The prime minister directed that the reforms be completed and fully operationalised by the middle of next year. He also directed the creation of a complete ecosystem, including the entire value chain, for agricultural product exports, and said highly trained staff should be inducted into the authority through a transparent, merit-based process.

The reform comes as Pakistan's goods exports are rising. Merchandise exports grew by 7.7 per cent to 8.5 billion dollars in July to September 2026, up from 7.9 billion dollars a year earlier, according to the Planning Ministry. Exporters have been told that TDAP's services, including registration, trade fairs and certificates of origin, continue as normal while the reforms are carried out.