GDP growth expected to reach 6% by 2023: Hammad Azhar Energy minister asks opposition to stop deceiving masses, says economic growth rate will be 5% next year Federal Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar. PHOTO: TWITTER/@Hammad_Azhar In yet another positive development, Federal Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar, who also served as finance minister for a brief period, said the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of Pakistan is expected to reach 6 per cent by 2023. Briefing the media in Islamabad on Wednesday, he said that the opposition is panicking due to the country's rapid growth rate. "I want to tell the PDM [Pakistan Democratic Movement] that next year, the country's economic growth rate will be 5 per cent."