KARACHI: Atif Ikram Sheikh, President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), President ECO Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ECO-CCI), SVP SAARC-CCI and Vice President of the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI), delivered a comprehensive presentation on “Doing Business in Pakistan: Current Trends and Latest Developments during a high-level virtual session organised under the platform of CACCI.
The webinar was attended by more than 60 senior representatives, business leaders and chamber members from across the Asia-Pacific region.
In his presentation, Sheikh highlighted Pakistan’s improving macroeconomic indicators, strategic geographic location, young and skilled workforce, expanding digital economy and wide-ranging investment opportunities in key sectors including agriculture & food processing, information technology, minerals, logistics, renewable energy, tourism, housing & construction, textile and automobile manufacturing.
While presenting Pakistan’s economic outlook, he informed participants that Pakistan’s 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.
During the interactive question-and-answer session, members from various CACCI countries raised important questions relating to Pakistan’s economic fundamentals, industrial competitiveness, regional image and investment climate.
Sheikh addressed queries on 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, Pakistan’s 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 constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability and Pakistan’s emergence as a responsible economic and diplomatic stakeholder in South Asia and beyond.
Sheikh emphasised that 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 FPCCI’s role as the apex trade body of Pakistan representing business, industry, and services sectors, and reaffirmed FPCCI’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with CACCI member economies. The participants appreciated the informative presentation and acknowledged Pakistan’s growing economic potential and its strategic importance in regional trade and investment.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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