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Islamabad : The Pakistan-Africa Economic Council (PAEC) was launched at a hotel here, with ambassadors, Foreign Office officials, civil and military officers and other dignitaries in attendance.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi urged Pakistani businessmen to tap Africa’s emerging markets and untapped resources, saying the newly formed council could strengthen economic ties between Pakistan and African countries.
PAEC Patron-in-Chief Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan unveiled a three-month agenda, announcing upcoming business delegations to Rwanda, Ethiopia and other African countries to explore markets, resources and investment opportunities.
Defence Production Minister Raza Hayat Hiraj, Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Tourism Sardar Yasir Ilyas and other speakers noted that the council could provide Pakistani businesses with a structured platform to tap into Africa’s 1.59-billion-strong consumer market and expand trade, investment and commercial partnerships with the continent.
They said the PAEC had been established as a Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan-authorised and registered Africa-focused entrepreneurship platform.
The speakers said the council would help create new avenues for Pakistani businesses to engage with Africa’s rapidly expanding markets while facilitating commercial and investment partnerships.The platform will connect Pakistani and international entrepreneurs, investors and businesses with project-specific opportunities and potential joint ventures in Pakistan and selected African countries.
The speakers noted that Africa’s large and growing consumer base offered significant opportunities for Pakistani businesses, particularly by linking capital, production capacity and entrepreneurial expertise with viable projects. The council will initially focus on East Africa, particularly Rwanda, Ethiopia, Uganda and Djibouti, before extending its engagement to Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan.
The PAEC plans to facilitate partnerships aimed at supporting economic growth, industrial development, employment and regional connectivity.
According to the council, its strength lies in its network of experienced production and business partners in Pakistan, coupled with established links with African businesses, local partners and government stakeholders.
The council has also planned two business-opportunity missions to East Africa during the last quarter of 2026 in collaboration with local partners and host governments.
The missions will enable entrepreneurs and investors to explore projects, meet prospective business partners and assess investment opportunities directly in the region.
The speakers said the PAEC aimed to move beyond conventional trade promotion by facilitating the implementation of high-impact projects and sustainable joint ventures. Its broader objective is to serve as a bridge between Pakistan and Africa, connecting capital, business capacity and entrepreneurs with concrete commercial opportunities.
Through stronger private-sector cooperation and project-based investment, the council seeks to contribute to closer economic and trade ties between Pakistan and African countries.
