Pakistan, ASEAN countries can promote Halal trade: SVP FPCCI

KARACHI: Senior Vice President of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Saquib Fayyaz Magoon has said that Pakistan and ASEAN countries like Malaysia and Indonesia are leaders in Halal market and we can jointly develop Halal certification, standards, and promote Halal trade which is a USD7 trillion global market.

Speaking at Pakistan ASEAN Business Roundtable confidence at FPCCI, he said bilateral trade between Pakistan and ASEAN countries is 11 to 12 billion dollars.

He said ASEAN is a success story. A region of 680 million people with a combined GDP of over USD4 trillion. It is the 5th largest economy in the world, and the engine of global growth.

Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with ASEAN. Pakistan is a Sectoral Dialogue Partner since 1993. Our total trade with ASEAN is around

USD11-12 billion, but it is heavily tilted. Pakistan exports are less than USD1.5 billion, while imports are over USD10 billion. This gap itself is an opportunity. The potential is far larger than what we have achieved.

Pakistan strength and ASEAN’s strength are complementary. Pakistan can be a gateway for ASEAN to Central Asia, Middle East and Western China through CPEC and Gwadar. ASEAN can be a gateway for Pakistan to the wider Asia-Pacific market.

If we have to navigate our future together, we have to move from goodwill to concrete business linkages. Allow me to propose a few practical ideas for your consideration: FPCCI proposes to institutionalize this engagement. A joint Business Forum, with FPCCI as Secretariat from Pakistan side and ASEAN Chambers from the other side, meeting annually, with sectoral working groups on IT, Textiles, Agri-food, Halal Industry, and SMEs.

We need to see each other’s products. He proposes to organize Pakistan-ASEAN Trade Expo in Karachi and invites ASEAN countries to hold their Single Country Exhibitions at FPCCI. Similarly, FPCCI will organize Pakistan Pavilions in major ASEAN fairs in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines.

Pakistan today offers immense opportunities. Pakistan has 240 million consumers, Special Economic Zones under CPEC with tax incentives, liberal investment policy, and opportunities in Mines and Minerals, IT and Freelancing, Agriculture value-addition, Tourism, and Green Energy.

Our SIFC is facilitating foreign investors on fast-track. I invite ASEAN investors to look at Pakistan as a production base.

He said we need direct B2B linkages, direct flights, banking channels, and a digital B2B portal. FPCCI will launch a dedicated Pakistan-ASEAN B2B portal for trade inquiries. We also propose a Young Entrepreneurs and Women Entrepreneurs exchange program.

He said FPCCI is ready to be the driver. We have already requested MOFA to support us for early conclusion of Pakistan-Indonesia PTA review and Pakistan-Malaysia FTA review, and to initiate PTA negotiations with Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Ambassador of Philippines said Dr. Emmanuel R Fernandez said that the center of global trade is rapidly shifting towards Asia.

Emmanuel R Fernandez said that there is vast potential to increase trade between Pakistan and ASEAN countries.

Chairman Abad Hanif Gohar said we have to go beyond traditional trade and focus on new economies. He said lack of visa facilities is a major obstacle in Pakistan-ASEAN trade. Hanif Gohar said ASEAN countries should facilitate visa facilities for Pakistani business.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026