KARACHI: President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) Atif Ikram Sheikh has said the economy is showing signs of stabilisation, with improving growth prospects, controlled inflation, enhanced foreign exchange stability and renewed investor confidence.
He also highlighted Pakistan’s trade agreements, export potential, special economic zones, investor-friendly legal framework and the role of government reforms in strengthening the business environment.
He made these remarks during a presentation titled ‘Doing Business in Pakistan: Current Trends and Latest Developments’.
The webinar was attended by more than 60 senior representatives, business leaders and chamber members from across the Asia-Pacific region.
In his keynote presentation, Sheikh highlighted Pakistan’s improving macroeconomic indicators, strategic geographic location, young and skilled workforce, expanding digital economy and investment opportunities in key sectors, including agriculture and food processing, information technology, minerals, logistics, renewable energy, tourism, housing and construction, textiles and automobile manufacturing.
During the interactive question-and-answer session, participants raised questions relating to Pakistan’s economic fundamentals, industrial competitiveness, regional image and investment climate.
Sheikh addressed queries regarding Pakistan’s core economic challenges, the role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) as a single-window platform for investors, foreign direct investment trends, industrial and trade policies, preferential and free trade agreements, textile sector challenges, utility and fuel costs, export competitiveness and sovereign credit ratings by international agencies, including Moody’s.
He also responded to questions regarding the regional geopolitical environment, including the impact of the US-Iran conflict, Pakistan’s role in promoting regional peace and stability, and the country’s emergence as a responsible economic and diplomatic stakeholder in South Asia and beyond.
Sheikh said Pakistan offers substantial opportunities for international investors due to its strategic connectivity with Central Asia, the Middle East, China, South Asia and Europe, making it a natural trade, logistics and investment hub.
He further highlighted the FPCCI’s role as the apex trade body representing Pakistan’s business, industry and services sectors, and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with CACCI member economies.
