KARACHI: Samir Dossal, President of the Canada Pakistan Business Council (CPBC), performed the ceremonial market opening “Gong Ceremony” at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Tuesday, celebrating the USD1 billion bilateral trade milestone between Canada and Pakistan and underscoring the deepening ties between the PSX and the Canadian business community.
During his address, Dossal expressed gratitude to PSX Chairman Ruhail Muhammad and Managing Director and CEO Farrukh Sabzwari, while giving special recognition to Nadeem Naqvi, PSX director and CPBC member, for his efforts in strengthening Canada-Pakistan relations and facilitating dialogue between international investors and Pakistan’s capital markets.
“This is a special occasion given the excellent performance of the Pakistan stock market,” Dossal said. “It sends a strong positive signal to Canadian investors that Pakistan has successfully navigated recent challenges and is now on a strong footing for sustained growth. With a population of over 240 million and a vibrant diaspora of Canadians of Pakistani origin, the opportunities for two-way investment, knowledge exchange, and business collaboration are immense.”
He noted that Canada-Pakistan trade has grown from USD300 million in 2012 to over USD1 billion annually. He highlighted that regulatory barriers in agrifood have been resolved after three years, allowing 500,000 tons of Canadian canola to arrive at Karachi port, and acknowledged Ishaq Dar, Anita Anand, and High Commissioner Tarik Ali Khan for their coordination in making this landmark deal possible. In education and innovation, CPBC facilitated an academic partnership between NED University and Toronto Metropolitan University, led by Dr Mohamed Lachemi, fostering knowledge exchange and research collaboration between the two countries.
Canadian franchises are also thriving in Pakistan, with Tim Hortons successfully inaugurating flagship outlets in Karachi and Lahore, Mary Brown’s Chicken launching in the Pakistani market, and Second Cup sustaining growth with over 50 outlets nationwide. CPBC has also been involved with CATYES.org, the new Canadian Alliance for Trade, aligning with the Indo-Pacific Strategy.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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