Report & Collaboration:Tazeen Akhtar Editor Pakistan in the World Media Group
Camera : Raja Ghulam Farid
ISLAMABAD : The Prime Minister of Pakistan has directed enhanced engagement with Africa, especially in trade, investment and commercial ties. TDAP shall be holding a single country exhibition in conjunction with MoFA and Pak Embassy at Addis Ababa from 16-18 October, 2025 with participation of over 100 Pakistani exhibitors.
Many African countries are willing to incentivize investment in industry and joint ventures to boost local manufacturing.
Agricultural cooperation and health care are but two of the areas where tremendous scope for collaboration exists.
This was shared by Additional Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan in a roundtable with African envoys serving in Islamabad on the topic ” Pakistan Africa Connectivity – Engage Africa Policy of Pakistan” hosted by Center of Pakistan and International Relations (COPAIR) in collaboration with “Pakistan in the World” media group.
The event was chaired by H.E Hamid Asghar Khan while Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, President Pakistan Africa Institute for Development Research (PAIDAR) graced the event with his special appearance as keynote speaker. Mr. Saleem Ahmad Ranjha , renown ex official and business consultant, Ms Amna Malik Chairperson COPAIR , Zahid Lateef Khan Head of Diplomatic committee of RCCI, Founder of Islamabad Stock Exchange , renown spiritual personality Dr Afshan Malik and Mr. Tazeen Akhtar, were also present.
10 Ambassadors , High Commissioners,and DHMs of African Embassies out of total 14 Missions participated in the roundtable. They included HE Dr. Brahim Romani, Algeria, HE Ms Harerimana Fatou, Rwanda, Salih Mohamed Ahmed Sudan, HE Titus Mehliswa Johnathan Abu Basutu, Zimbabwe, HE Lt. General (R) Peter Mbogo Njiru, Kenya, Rudolph Pierre Jordaan, South Africa, Yushau Mohammed, Nigeria , Mahmed Abdirahman Hersi, Somalia, DHM of Morocco, Umar Shahid Butt, Vice Consul Ghana.
The envoys shared the present status of cooperation between their countries and Pakistan. They pointed out the gaps to bridge and suggested the measures,if taken, can enhance the level of trade between the sides. Additional Secretary MOFA, Mr. Hamid Asghar Khan took note of the proposals and assured the envoys of every possible effort to do whatever is needful.
H.E Brahim Romani, Ambassador of the Republic of Algeria
Algeria is the third largest economy and gateway to Africa with a big network of roads to other neighboring countries. Algeria’s potential can be seen in recently held Intra Africa Trade Fair in which the parties had MoUs of worth morethan $ 48 Billion. We are manufacturing mobiles and exporting them.
Pakistan needs improvement in its missions in Africa where there is lack of Press and Commercial sections. In Pakistan , many members of the chambers of commerce do not know about Algeria.
H.E Harerimana Fatou , High Commissioner of Rwanda
Rwanda is ready to forge partnership with Pakistan in Free Trade Area of East Africa. We expect Pakistan would minimize the trade barriers for Rwanda. It will help improve bilateral trade and cooperation in various sectors rapidly.
Bureaucratic matters are major hurdle in the way forward to enhancing bilateral economic cooperation. Rwanda is keen to work with Pakistan in all fields to increase the level of mutual cooperation.
H.E Salih Mohamed Ahmed, Ambassador of Sudan
We welcome Pakistani businessmen to explore investment opportunities in our country where there are lot of land and live stock is available. Sudan has 800 KM coastal line. Sudan is near the Gulf and not far from Europe. Sudan provides connectivity to 5 countries of Africa. Pharmaceutical, Food, Agriculture, Meat sectors are promising for bilateral cooperation.
HE Peter Mbogo Njiru, High Commissioner of Kenya
Africa is the continent of today. It is free trade area of a population of 1.6 Billion. Pakistan is know in Kenya for its Rice. Both sides have great potential to deepen the bilateral cooperation. We have to tell our story to the world. We need right approach in right sectors.
H.E Titus Mehliswa Johnathan Abu Basutu, High Commissioner of Zimbabwe
Media can play supporting role in connecting the countries and paving the way forward to enhancing the cooperation. Media should not be negative. Zimbabwe is open for business. We welcome Pakistani business community to visit our country, see the opportunites and connect with local partners.
Charge d, Affaires of Nigeria High Commission , Yushau Mohammed
Rice, in Pakistan, 300 pkr and we buy it in Nigeria 1200 pkr Kilo. Pakistan could export rice as big market. Pakistani medicines are good but barriers are bad. Pharma sector is important for bilateral trade. Nigeria is rich in oil and gas. Both countries could shape up cooperation in this field.
Many of our citizens live in Lahore. They face problems there. Nigeria hosts a large number of Pakistanis. Both sides could work on safety of the citizens.
H.E Hamid Asghar Khan shared, an international arbitration org is working on such issues. Omar Dad Afridi is heading the org. We have supported 27 Pakistani families stranded in Sudan through the same system. We can use the same for Nigerian citizens.
H.E Rudolph Pierre JordaanActing High Commissioner of South Africa
Pakistan and South Africa are connected through Dubai. We are in Free Trade Area and our emphsis is on Intra Africa but we work on international trade as well. South Africa focuses on value added products. Tourism is a major sector where sky is the limit as we have the world’s best tourist sites including beaches, pyramids etc. South Africa offers big opportunities for the intending parties.
Mr. Hamid Asghar Khan expressed his mind and vision on how to increase connectivity and cooperation with African countries implementing the engage Africa policy of Pakistan. He mentioned air connectivity between Pakistan and Ethiopia as a direct link with Africa. He referred to another promising project to connect Africa through sea route. ” Pakistan authorities are working on establishing direct shipping and port connectivity between Pakistani and East African ports.”
He also highlighted the sacrifices of Pakistani soldiers in their service in UN peacekeeping missions in Africa. He said , 280 soldiers of our security forces have laid their lives for peace and stability in Africa. That speaks a lot about the strong bonds between Africa and Pakistan. “We have spilled our blood for peace in Africa, ” he noted.
Mr. Hamid Asghar Khan said Africa is the continent of today with a population of 1.6 billion and 54 countries. Pakistani trade with Africa has potential of much more than USD 5.4 billion per annum only. He said , Pakistan and African countries are developing countries having common challenges. We will move forward with a focus on project to project basis as per need in different countries.
In this regard, he shared the details of some agreements ; Algeria and Pakistan’s Fatima Group have signed (MoU) to boost phosphate fertilizer production, Cooperation with Rwanda on safety of environment through waste management and garbage disposal, private sector agriculture implements project with Nigeria, Tea trade with Kenya, joint venture between Fauji Fertilizer and Morocco on Phosphoric Acid Egypt has facilitated a Pakistani football factory in Cairo, DRC Congo is facing law and order problems but still Pakistani citizen has set up a cement factory there, who is honorary consul of DRC in Karachi, South Africa is the host of 250 thousand legal Pakistanis with lot of business, Sudan and Pakistan are working on health care and medicine,private sector is collaborating in agriculture in Kenya and many others.
Discussing the potential, he said, the healthcare sector alone can take the bilateral trade to USD 10 billion. He emphasized direct trade instead of through third parties that increases the prices for the end customers. He called for an end to the middle party and gave examples of Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali and Chad in this regard who have formed an independent sovereign alliance.
A Pharma industry expert present in the event shared the details and answered the queries of the African diplomats. For financial matters like trade transactions, the General Manager North of al-Baraka Bank, Mr. Raheel Sajjad was present. He enlightened the guests about the working of 5 branches in different African countries for trustworthy transactions.
Hamid Asghar Khan underscored the importance of the private sector to tap the real potential of trade and economic prospects. He encouraged the business community to develop B2B connections and devise joint ventures.
On P2P and cultural linkages, Mr. Hamid Asghar Khan stressed the need to organise food, music, fashion festivals to bring the people closer and have knowledge about one another. He mentioned education as one of the most promising sectors to enhance friendship among the youth of two sides.
Mr. Saleem Ahmad Ranjha shared his pleasant experiences of visiting Algeria two times and meetings with ministers facilitated by Ambassador Brahim Rumnai. He shared about phosphate trade and setting up a factory in Algeria. He was hopeful of more success in the northern African country from where Europe is only two hours flight away.
Mushahid Hussain Syed, in his concluding remarks, recalled his lifetime memories cherishing his visits to different capitals and meetings with leaders of African countries including Nelson Mandela, Ahmad bin Bela and others. He expressed his pleasure at the presence of maximum representation of Africa in the roundtable as A for Algeria to Z for Zimbabwe.
He said , Africa is a land of opportunities and Pakistan has historical relations with this continent. He mentioned the role of Africa for the development of the global south. He expressed his full confidence that Pakistan and Africa cooperation will be taken to new heights soon.
