DHAKA: Pakistan has intensified efforts to expand economic and trade ties with Bangladesh, with the Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce, Ihsaan Afzal Khan, wrapping up a multi-day visit to Dhaka marked by high-level business and financial sector engagements.
Khan attended a networking session co-hosted by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), where he met DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed and board members.
The discussions explored opportunities in pharmaceuticals, automotive, and minerals, with both sides agreeing to build on initiatives launched during the recent visit of Pakistan’s commerce minister.
At a dinner reception hosted by Muhammad Wasif, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. at the High Commission for Pakistan, Khan held talks with senior representatives from Bangladesh’s Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, and other trade bodies.
The dialogue focused on fostering private-sector linkages and encouraging investment partnerships.
In the financial sector, Khan visited the National Bank of Pakistan’s Dhaka branch for consultations with Country Director Mohammad Quamruzzaman and Deputy General Manager Jawad Raza Naqvi. Discussions centred on expanding banking collaboration and facilitating operational support for cross-border businesses.
The coordinator also toured Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd’s Dhamrai facility to review prospects of collaboration between Pakistani and Bangladeshi pharmaceutical companies. Officials described the visit as part of Pakistan’s broader push to diversify exports and attract joint investments in high-growth sectors.
