– There is an urgent need to revive investment, which has fallen dismally to 12.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2011/12 from its peak of 22.5 per cent in 2006/07. This could be done by improving the investment climate and removing binding constraints—especially in energy—on new domestic and foreign investment. Pakistan needs to increase its investment-to-GDP ratio to over 30 per cent over the next decade if it is to generate sufficient employment to productively employ its fast-growing labor force and compete effectively with other rapidly growing developing countries. However, in the medium term, investment may continue to be constrained by resource availability and so, in the near future, a large part of the revival of growth will have to come from exploiting unused capacity and productivity gains.

– Pakistan's economic problems are structural and not just cyclical. Deep economic reforms are needed to remove structural imbalances to increase efficiency and competitiveness, and to spur entrepreneurship and innovation in the economy. Undertaking these reforms will require political will and a carefully sequenced pace of critical reforms so as to ease the burden of adjustment.

– The binding constraints to Pakistan's growth need to be overcome to revive the economy and ensure sustainable growth. These include tackling the crippling energy shortage, increasing revenues to regain macroeconomic stability and reduce the current unsustainable fiscal deficit, and ensuring the availability of water to meet the needs of the agricultural economy.

– Exports should be made a major driver of economic growth. This will mean reversing Pakistan's past poor performance in integrating with global markets—reflected in the country's stagnant share in global exports.