Islamabad – 26 February 2026: The inaugural meeting of the FPCCI Central Standing Committee on Strategic Mobility, Defence Affairs, Trade and Tourism was successfully convened at FPCCI Capital Office, Islamabad, under the chairmanship of Lt. Col. (R) Syed Irshad Hussain Shah, Convener of the Committee.
The meeting was graced by Mr. Tariq Khan Jadoon, Vice President FPCCI, as Chief Guest, and Mr. Malik Sohail Hussain, Chairman Coordination Committee FPCCI, along with distinguished members of the Committee and eminent representatives from the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (RCCI) and Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI).
Strategic Vision and Mandate
In his opening remarks, Lt. Col. (R) Syed Irshad Hussain Shah highlighted the evolving geo-strategic and geo-economic environment and underscored the need for Pakistan’s private sector to play a proactive role in strategic mobility, defence collaboration, trade expansion, and tourism integration. He emphasized that economic security and national security are increasingly interlinked, requiring structured coordination between industry, defence stakeholders, policymakers, and chambers of commerce.
The Convener outlined the Committee’s core objectives:
. Promoting public-private synergy in strategic mobility and logistics infrastructure
. Facilitating defence-related industrial cooperation and indigenization
. Enhancing trade diplomacy and market diversification
. Positioning tourism as a pillar of economic resilience and soft power projection
. Strengthening inter-chamber coordination at federal and regional levels
Address by Vice President FPCCI
Mr. Tariq Khan Jadoon appreciated the initiative of constituting this important Standing Committee and reaffirmed FPCCI’s commitment to strengthening institutional mechanisms that align Pakistan’s economic ambitions with strategic imperatives. He encouraged the Committee to produce actionable recommendations, policy briefs, and stakeholder engagement frameworks that can be presented at national forums.
Collaborative Framework
Mr. Malik Sohail Hussain emphasized the importance of inter-committee coordination within FPCCI to ensure harmonized policy advocacy and avoid duplication of efforts. He assured full support from the Coordination Committee to translate the Committee’s proposals into implementable action plans.
Elite members from RCCI and ICCI shared valuable insights on regional trade corridors, defence-linked industrial opportunities, and the potential of integrated tourism circuits across northern and central Pakistan.
Key Outcomes of the Meeting | During the session, the Committee:
. Confirmed its mandate, scope, and working framework for 2026
. Identified priority focus areas including strategic transport corridors, defence production partnerships, trade facilitation reforms, and tourism investment models
. Initiated stakeholder mapping for engagement with relevant ministries, armed forces-linked production entities, logistics operators, and provincial tourism departments
Proposed the development of a Strategic Mobility & Trade Integration Policy Paper
. Agreed on forming specialized working groups for Defence Industry Linkages, Trade & Logistics Corridors, and Tourism & Investment Promotion
Way Forward
The Convener announced that the Committee will adopt a structured quarterly roadmap, organize focused roundtables with stakeholders, and present policy recommendations to FPCCI leadership and relevant government authorities.
Concluding the meeting, Lt. Col. (R) Syed Irshad Hussain Shah stated:
“Pakistan stands at a critical intersection of strategic opportunity. By integrating defence, mobility, trade, and tourism under a unified economic vision, we can strengthen national resilience, enhance global competitiveness, and unlock sustainable growth. This Committee will serve as a bridge between policy, industry, and strategic institutions.”
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to collaborative action, institutional coherence, and strategic foresight in advancing Pakistan’s economic and national interests.
