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ISLAMABAD: A delegation of investors from the UAE explored investment opportunities in real estate, tourism and hotels and hospitality industry in Islamabad, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) said in a statement this week. 

The press release followed a meeting between CDA officials, including its chairman and Islamabad Chief Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa, and a delegation of UAE investors at the authority’s headquarters. Both sides discussed potential investment opportunities and projects in Islamabad, the CDA said. 

“The UAE investors were briefed on various sectors and projects, including the hotel and hospitality industry, commercial projects, real estate and tourism,” the CDA said on Monday. “The briefing highlighted that the city of Islamabad offers excellent investment opportunities in the hotel industry, real estate sector and tourism.”

The CDA officials informed the UAE delegation that the authority had developed “robust” financial and operational models to secure investors’ capital in Islamabad’s commercial projects. They said feasibility studies for tourism projects, such as a theme park and a cable car project, have been completed.

Randhawa said the CDA is taking comprehensive measures to provide maximum incentives and facilities for investors. He highlighted that renowned consultancy firms and consultants have already conducted feasibility studies to make these investment projects viable.

The UAE investors expressed deep interest in various investment opportunities in Islamabad, the CDA said.

“The purpose of the meeting was to promote foreign investment in Islamabad and implement international standard projects for the development of the city,” the statement said. 

The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States, and a major source of foreign investment valued at over $10 billion in the last 20 years, according to the Gulf country’s foreign ministry.

ISLAMABAD: Senior officials of Pakistan and Turkiye on Tuesday pledged to deepen defense and economic ties, agreeing on new initiatives in energy, technology and agriculture during a ministerial meeting in Islamabad. 

The joint ministerial commission’s 16th meeting was co-chaired by Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Turkiye’s Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler. The engagement is a sign of growing cooperation between both nations, who have resolved recently to enhance defense, economic and investment relations, and announced plans to expand bilateral trade to $5 billion. 

“An agreement has been reached to enhance cooperation in renewable energy, oil, gas, and LNG sectors,” the commerce ministry said in a statement. 

Khan said defense cooperation is the hallmark of Pakistan’s ties with Turkiye, noting that the two sides had held discussions on boosting defense technology, joint production, and capacity building cooperation. 

“Agriculture, food security, and health have been identified as new areas of cooperation,” the statement added. 

The Pakistani commerce ministry said special emphasis was placed on boosting cooperation in IT, e-commerce, fintech, and artificial intelligence. Both sides also announced collaboration in workforce, media, culture, and tourism sectors, while Pakistan said it would facilitate Turkish investors in its special economic zones. 

“Both sides resolved to transform Pakistan–Türkiye ties into a productive economic partnership,” the statement said. 

Pakistan and Turkiye have moved closer since Ankara’s public support for Islamabad during its four-day skirmish with India in May. The military forces of the two Muslim-majority countries have since then resolved to forge stronger ties in defense and trade amid regional tensions. 

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Güler arrived in Pakistan in July for high-level discussions with political and military leaders. The visit was described by Pakistan’s foreign office as a sign of “deepening strategic ties” with Ankara. It said the visit included consultations on regional stability, trade expansion, and defense modernization.