His Excellency Mr. Tarik Ali Khan, High Commissioner of Canada to Pakistan,
called on Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan, at the Ministry of
Commerce in Islamabad. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral trade and
investment cooperation between Pakistan and Canada, particularly in the areas of
mining, agriculture, information technology, renewable energy, and skill development.
The Canadian High Commissioner briefed the Minister on Canada’s efforts to
diversify trade markets across Asia and highlighted Pakistan as an important emerging
market for Canadian exports such as canola oil, soybean, and pulses. He informed that
Canada will be organizing three major expos in the coming months such as PDAC
Convention (Mining Sector) in March, Crops Canada Show (Agriculture Sector) in April,
and Collision (IT and Tech Sector) in Toronto. The High Commissioner encouraged
Pakistan’s participation in these shows to explore partnerships and establish business-
to-business linkages.
The Federal Minister Jam Kamal Khan underscored Pakistan’s growing focus on
value addition in food, livestock, and halal-certified products, emphasizing the country’s
authenticity and global credibility in halal production. He invited Canadian companies to
participate in the Pakistan Food & Agriculture Expo 2025, being held on November 25 in
Karachi, showcasing Pakistan’s Agri-based and processed food potential. The Minister
further highlighted Pakistan’s rapid progress in digital transformation, e-commerce, IT
exports, and AI-based fintech startups, noting that collaborations with global tech firms
such as Meta and Google have expanded Pakistan’s digital ecosystem.
Both sides expressed keen interest in exploring cooperation in renewable energy
projects, SME development, and human resource exchange programs, while also
acknowledging the importance of Pakistan’s skilled labor for global markets. The
Canadian High Commissioner appreciated Pakistan’s trade-friendly policies and
growing industrial capabilities. He also noted the strong Pakistani diaspora of over
300,000 in Canada, including elected representatives in the Canadian Parliament, and
supported initiatives to establish stronger institutional and business-to-business
linkages.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to deepen
economic relations, promote joint ventures, and facilitate participation in trade expos
and sector-specific events in both countries.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Commerce and the Canadian High
Commission was also present during the meeting.
