黑料社区

Pakistan envoy identifies textiles, agriculture as key sectors to focus in exports to 黑料社区

Pakistan envoy identifies textiles, agriculture as key sectors to focus in exports to 黑料社区
Pakistan Ambassador to 黑料社区 Ahmad Farooq holds a meeting with IT companies in Islamabad, Pakistan, on January 29, 2025. (Pakistan Embassy in 黑料社区)
Short Url
Updated 31 January 2025

Pakistan envoy identifies textiles, agriculture as key sectors to focus in exports to 黑料社区

Pakistan envoy identifies textiles, agriculture as key sectors to focus in exports to 黑料社区
  • Pakistan and 黑料社区 are close regional partners, and the Kingdom remains the largest source of remittances to the South Asian country
  • Ambassador Ahmad Farooq stresses need to improve vocational training of Pakistani workers to meet standards required for mega Saudi projects

KARACHI: Pakistan Ambassador to 黑料社区 Ahmad Farooq on Wednesday identified textiles, agriculture and red meat as key sectors for Pakistani businesses to focus on in order to increase the country鈥檚 exports to the Kingdom.

Farooq identified the key sectors during his visit to the Karachi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Wednesday, where he met with leading Pakistani businesspersons and industrialists, according to the KCCI.

The ambassador highlighted that Pakistan鈥檚 exports to the Kingdom had registered a 40 percent increase during 2023-24, with the information technology (IT) sector witnessing an impressive 50 percent growth.

Pakistan and 黑料社区 last year signed 34 agreements worth nearly $3 billion, of which, memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth $700 million have already entered the implementation stage, according to Farooq.

鈥淲e want large businesses to connect with local distributors in 黑料社区 to facilitate exports,鈥 he was quoted as saying by the KCCI. 鈥淎 list of key exporters in these sectors should be shared with the [Pakistani] embassy so we can work together to strengthen trade relations.鈥

Farooq said Pakistani textile, agriculture and meat (beef and mutton) products had already seen a 鈥渞emarkable growth鈥 in the Saudi market, adding that the Kingdom offers vast opportunities for Pakistani businesses.

鈥淭he purpose of my visit is to discuss business opportunities with the Karachi business community and update them on how Pakistan鈥檚 embassy can support them in accessing the Saudi market,鈥 he added.

Speaking about the rising demand for skilled manpower, the Pakistani envoy said more than 3 million Pakistanis were currently living in the Kingdom, however, 97 percent of them were 鈥渂lue-collar workers.鈥

黑料社区 is currently developing its public service sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, recreation and tourism as part of a strategic framework, Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the Kingdom鈥檚 economy beyond oil. The

Kingdom鈥檚 ambitious plan coincides with Pakistan鈥檚 efforts to boost trade and foreign investment to revive its fragile economy.

鈥淪audi authorities have advised us to improve vocational training for Pakistani workers to meet the standards required for upcoming projects,鈥 Ambassador Farooq said, stressing the need to enhance training programs to equip these workers with modern technical skills.

Pakistan and 黑料社区 are close regional partners, and the Kingdom remains the largest source of remittances to the South Asian country, contributing $7.5 billion in the last fiscal year (July 2023-June 2024), according to KCCI President Jawed Bilwani.

黑料社区 has also regularly provided Pakistan oil on deferred payments and offered direct financial support to help shore up Pakistan鈥檚 forex reserves.

KCCI Senior Vice President Zia-ul-Arfeen stressed the need to enhance joint ventures between the two countries, urging Islamabad to further improve the ease of doing business for foreign investors.

鈥淪audi investors should consider Pakistan for investments, particularly in the food sector,鈥 he added.


Pakistan police detain eight Sindh building authority officials after Karachi building collapse

Pakistan police detain eight Sindh building authority officials after Karachi building collapse
Updated 10 July 2025

Pakistan police detain eight Sindh building authority officials after Karachi building collapse

Pakistan police detain eight Sindh building authority officials after Karachi building collapse
  • Twenty-seven people died when dilapidated building in Lyari collapsed last Friday聽
  • Incident exposes issue of unsafe housing in city home to over 20 million people

KARACHI: Eight officials of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and the owners of a building that collapsed in Karachi last week have been detained in connection with the incident, Pakistani police said on Thursday. 

A five-story residential building, Fotan Mansion, collapsed last Friday around 10 am in the impoverished Lyari neighborhood of Karachi, trapping dozens under the rubble and prompting a large-scale rescue operation. Rescue officials recovered 27 bodies from the rubble after three days. 

The collapse of the dilapidated building once again exposed the persistent issue of unsafe and poorly regulated housing in Karachi, Pakistan鈥檚 most populous city, which is home to over 20 million people. The rapid urbanization and weak enforcement of building codes have put countless residents at risk.

鈥淲e have detained eight officials of the SBCA and the owners of the building in connection with the first information report regarding the building collapse in Lyari,鈥 Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) City Arif Aziz told Arab News. 

The complaint was registered under criminal sections covering public servant misconduct, negligence in building safety, unintentional death, intentional bodily harm and property damage. These offenses carry penalties ranging from fines and short-term imprisonment to financial compensation and long-term jail.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah suspended Director General SBCA Ishaque Khuhro and ordered an inquiry over the incident on Monday. 

He also directed the SBCA to carry out safety inspections of all buildings in the city. The Sindh government announced Rs1 million ($3,513) in compensation for the families of the 27 victims.

Many of the building鈥檚 occupants were members of the low-income Hindu minority community, and residents estimated that around 40 people were inside when the structure collapsed.

Fotan Mansion had been declared unsafe three years ago, according to the SBCA. This incident is the latest in a series of deadly building collapses in Karachi.

In February 2020, a five-story building in Rizvia Society collapsed, killing at least 27 people. The following month, another residential structure in Gulbahar came down, claiming 16 lives.

In June 2021, a three-story building in Malir collapsed, resulting in four deaths. Just last year, in August, a building collapse in Qur鈥檃ngi killed at least three people.


Pakistan delegation concludes UAE visit under governance exchange program

Pakistan delegation concludes UAE visit under governance exchange program
Updated 10 July 2025

Pakistan delegation concludes UAE visit under governance exchange program

Pakistan delegation concludes UAE visit under governance exchange program
  • Meetings focused on digital governance, tax reform and service delivery
  • Delegation seeks to adopt UAE best practices in innovation, institutional performance

ISLAMABAD: A high-level Pakistani government delegation on Thursday concluded an official visit to the United Arab Emirates as part of a program aimed at sharing knowledge and best practices in governance and public sector modernization.

The delegation, led by Bilal Azhar Kayani, Pakistan鈥檚 Minister of State for Finance and Railways and Head of the Prime Minister鈥檚 Delivery Unit, participated in the UAE Government鈥檚 Experience Exchange Programme (EEP). The initiative is aligned with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif鈥檚 wider push for institutional reform and better service delivery across the country鈥檚 public sector.

During the visit, the eight-member team held detailed sessions with senior UAE officials to learn about digital governance, tax system modernization, leadership development, and innovation in public service.

鈥淜ayani expressed gratitude to the UAE Government for facilitating valuable knowledge-sharing engagements in areas such as digital governance, public service delivery, and tax system modernization,鈥 the Pakistan Embassy in Abu Dhabi said in an official statement.

On the final day of the program, the Pakistani delegation met senior Emirati officials including Mohammad Al Sharhan, Managing Director of the World Governments Summit, Khalid Ali Al Bustani, Director General of the UAE Federal Tax Authority, Saeed Al Eter, Chair of the UAE Government Media Office, Dr. Waleed Al Ali, Secretary General of The Digital School and Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation.

The sessions focused on the UAE鈥檚 approach to future foresight, media communication, and performance management in governance.

Kayani 鈥渦nderscored Pakistan鈥檚 commitment to adopting global best practices in digital governance, efficiency, and public sector competitiveness to enhance service delivery and institutional performance,鈥 the statement added.

The visit builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed on June 16, 2025, between the UAE Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and Pakistan鈥檚 Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives. The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation in governance excellence and institutional capacity-building.

The UAE is one of Pakistan鈥檚 largest trading partners and an important source of foreign remittances, with more than 1.7 million Pakistani expatriates living and working in the Emirates. According to Pakistan鈥檚 Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment, the UAE is the second-largest destination for Pakistani migrant workers after 黑料社区.

In recent years, bilateral trade has grown steadily, reaching nearly $10 billion in 2024, driven by energy imports, textiles, and other goods. Pakistani workers in the UAE sent home over $5 billion in remittances last fiscal year, providing vital foreign exchange for the country鈥檚 economy.

The two countries maintain close ties in investment, defense cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges, underpinned by shared commitments to economic development and regional stability.


Pakistan army chief calls visits to US, Gulf, Central Asia 鈥榮uccessful diplomatic maneuver鈥

Pakistan army chief calls visits to US, Gulf, Central Asia 鈥榮uccessful diplomatic maneuver鈥
Updated 10 July 2025

Pakistan army chief calls visits to US, Gulf, Central Asia 鈥榮uccessful diplomatic maneuver鈥

Pakistan army chief calls visits to US, Gulf, Central Asia 鈥榮uccessful diplomatic maneuver鈥
  • Munir鈥檚 remarks preset rare public statement by military on the country鈥檚 high-level diplomatic outreach
  • Says meetings with Trump, other US leaders allowed Pakistan to present views on bilateral, regional issues

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan鈥檚 army chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, on Thursday described his recent visits to the United States, Gulf nations and Central Asia as a 鈥渟uccessful diplomatic maneuver,鈥 in a rare public statement by the military on the country鈥檚 high-level foreign policy engagements.

Munir made the remarks during a closed-door briefing to senior commanders at the 271st Corps Commanders鈥 Conference, held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, according to a statement issued by the military鈥檚 media wing.

In May and June, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by senior ministers and Munir, visited 黑料社区, the UAE, Turkiye, Iran, and Azerbaijan as part of Islamabad鈥檚 broader diplomatic outreach in the wake of its four-day confrontation with India in May and as tensions escalated in the Middle East.

Last month, Munir was also hosted to a unprecedented two-hour-long lunch by US President Donald Trump at the White House, with no civilian leaders present. The two leaders discussed regional conflicts including India-Pakistan and Iran-Israel tensions, as well as economic development, trade, cryptocurrency, critical minerals and IT.

鈥淭he COAS shared details of Pakistan鈥檚 proactive and successful diplomatic maneuver, including recent visits to Iran, Turkiye, Azerbaijan, KSA and UAE, where the COAS accompanied the honorable prime minister,鈥 the army鈥檚 media wing said in a statement.

In this combination of handout photographs, taken and released by Pakistan鈥檚 Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir speaks during the 271st Corps Commanders鈥 Conference at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on July 10, 2025. (Handout/ISPR)

鈥淔orum was also briefed on the historic and unique visit of the COAS to US, where meetings with top-tier leadership, afforded an opportunity to share firsthand, Pakistan鈥檚 objective perspective on bilateral, regional and extra-regional developments.鈥

According to the ISPR, the commanders鈥 forum also conducted a 鈥渉olistic review鈥 of internal and external security dynamics, with particular focus on developments in the Middle East and Iran. It said the growing global trend toward the use of force as a preferred policy tool highlighted the need for 鈥減ersistent development of self-reliant capabilities, national unity and resolve.鈥

Pakistan has long accused India of supporting militant groups that carry out attacks inside its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, an allegation New Delhi denies. The military鈥檚 statement said Indian intelligence agencies were continuing to back anti-Pakistan proxies.

鈥淔orum strongly asserted that it is imperative to take decisive and holistic actions at all levels against the Indian-backed and sponsored proxies,鈥 the ISPR said.

Pakistan鈥檚 powerful military has ruled the country directly for nearly half of its history and retains significant influence over foreign and security policy, even under civilian governments. In recent weeks, top officials have increasingly described the current governance model as a 鈥渉ybrid system鈥 in which the military and civilian leaders co-share power.


As Alibaba team visits Pakistan, PM orders strategy to expand e-commerce

As Alibaba team visits Pakistan, PM orders strategy to expand e-commerce
Updated 55 min 51 sec ago

As Alibaba team visits Pakistan, PM orders strategy to expand e-commerce

As Alibaba team visits Pakistan, PM orders strategy to expand e-commerce
  • Chinese firm says 300,000 Pakistanis already sell on platform, mostly textile products
  • PM calls e-commerce key to boosting exports and building digital entrepreneurship

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met a delegation of the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group on Thursday, directing authorities to form a committee to further promote e-commerce in Pakistan.

Pakistani financial analysts say the country鈥檚 growing Internet penetration 鈥 with over 80% teledensity 鈥 was already fueling e-commerce, despite the fact that it still accounts for less than 1% of the overall retail market. This has also forced several retailers to shift to digital platforms.

A six-member Alibaba Group delegation, led by the group鈥檚 president of international markets James Dong, called on PM Sharif to discuss promoting e-commerce in the South Asian country. During the meeting, Sharif noted that 300,000 Pakistanis are currently selling locally produced products on e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba Group.

鈥淭he prime minister directed the formation of a committee to develop a roadmap for further promoting e-commerce in the country,鈥 the Prime Minister鈥檚 Office (PMO) said in a statement.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif gestures during a meeting with six-member delegation of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group at the Prime Minister鈥檚 Office in Islamabad on July 10, 2025. (Handout/PMO)

Sharif also instructed authorities to take steps to increase the number of Pakistani businesses selling their products on e-commerce platforms, noting that e-commerce is a major means of increasing exports significantly.

鈥淓-commerce is a vital element in realizing the government鈥檚 vision of an export-led economy,鈥 the prime minister said.

Dong praised the key role of the Pakistani business community in promoting international trade via e-commerce, the PMO said. He noted that around 300,000 locally made Pakistani products are currently being sold on Alibaba鈥檚 website.

鈥淗e also noted that Pakistani textile products are the most in-demand and best-selling items on the Alibaba platform,鈥 the PMO said.

Dong expressed 鈥渟trong interest鈥 in providing technical training to entrepreneurs in e-commerce to increase the number of Pakistani traders on Alibaba鈥檚 platform.

Realizing the growth and importance of e-commerce platforms in the country, Pakistan鈥檚 government imposed fresh taxes on international e-commerce giants in its recent federal budget.

The new measures, introduced through the budget passed on June 26, include an 18% sales tax on goods delivered by courier companies on behalf of foreign platforms, a 5% fixed income tax on digital retailers and a reduction in the duty-free threshold for imported parcels from Rs5,000 to Rs500 ($18 to $1.80).


Pakistan, Egypt agree to enhance agriculture, food security and farming cooperation聽

Pakistan, Egypt agree to enhance agriculture, food security and farming cooperation聽
Updated 10 July 2025

Pakistan, Egypt agree to enhance agriculture, food security and farming cooperation聽

Pakistan, Egypt agree to enhance agriculture, food security and farming cooperation聽
  • Agriculture constitutes largest sector of Pakistan鈥檚 economy. Contributing 24 percent to country鈥檚 GDP
  • Pakistan, Egypt to sign MoU 鈥渟oon鈥 to strengthen research exchange, training and innovation in agriculture

ISLAMABAD: Senior officials of Pakistan and Egypt discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation in agriculture, food security and farming on Thursday, Pakistan鈥檚 food security ministry said, with Islamabad expressing interest in learning from Cairo鈥檚 successful experiences in these areas. 

Agriculture constitutes the largest sector of Pakistan鈥檚 economy, contributing about 24 percent of the country鈥檚 gross domestic product (GDP). As per official figures, it accounts for half of Pakistan鈥檚 employed labor force and is the largest source of foreign exchange earnings for the South Asian country.

Pakistan鈥檚 National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain met Dr. Ihab Mohamed Abdelhamid Hassan, Egypt鈥檚 ambassador to Pakistan, at the ministry in Islamabad on Thursday. 

鈥淭he meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in agriculture, food security, and climate-resilient farming systems,鈥 the food security ministry鈥檚 statement said. 

Hussain praised Egypt鈥檚 鈥渞emarkable progress鈥 in the agricultural sector, especially in water resource management, arid-zone farming and the adoption of modern technologies, the statement said.

He emphasized Pakistan鈥檚 keen interest in learning from Egypt鈥檚 successful experiences, calling for enhanced collaboration in seed development, agricultural science, drip irrigation, capacity building and climate-smart technologies.

鈥淥ne of the major outcomes of the meeting was the mutual agreement to formalize cooperation between Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and Egypt鈥檚 Agricultural Research Center (ARC), as well as the Egyptian International Center for Agriculture (EICA),鈥 the statement said. 

It added that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two research institutions is expected to be signed 鈥渟oon鈥 to strengthen research exchange, training and innovation in agriculture.

Hussain also highlighted Pakistan鈥檚 challenges in post-harvest losses, especially in wheat storage. He appreciated Egypt鈥檚 successful efforts in improving wheat storage through better silo systems and logistics. 

Both countries agreed to share experiences and technical solutions to reduce such losses in Pakistan, which currently range between 20鈥30 percent, the food security ministry said.