FPCCI Calls for ASEAN Business Visa Sticker, Direct Flights and Early PTA/FTA in Pakistan-ASEAN Business Roundtable

Karachi: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), in
collaboration with the Honorary Consulate General of the Philippines in Karachi, organized a
high-level Pakistan-ASEAN Business Roundtable under the theme “Navigating Our Future
Together”, bringing together ASEAN diplomats, government representatives and business
leaders to strengthen economic cooperation.

The event featured welcome remarks by Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, Senior Vice President FPCCI; a
keynote address by Hanif Gohar, Chairman, FPCCI Committee on Diplomacy; and remarks by
Chief Guest Irfan Soomro, Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The ASEAN
diplomatic delegation was led by H.E. Dr. Emmanuel R. Fernandez, Ambassador of the
Philippines and Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Islamabad (ACI), alongside the ambassadors
of Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar, the High Commissioner of Malaysia, and the Deputy Head
of Mission of Brunei Darussalam. Dr. Imran Yousuf, Honorary Consul General of the Philippines
in Karachi, co- hosted the event.

In his welcome address, Saquib Fayyaz Magoon highlighted ASEAN’s economic strength,
representing approximately 680 million people and a combined GDP exceeding USS4 trillion.
He observed that, despite Pakistan’s longstanding Sectoral Dialogue Partnership with ASEAN
since 1993, bilateral trade of approximately US
11— − 12𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑙𝑦𝑖𝑚𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑑, 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑃𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛’𝑠𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑠𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑈𝑆𝑆1. 5𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑜𝑛. 𝐻𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑𝑓𝑜𝑟7 trillion halal economy. He also urged early progress on the Pakistan—Indonesia PTA review,
Pakistan—Malaysia FTA review, and proposed PTAs with the Philippines, Thailand and
Vietnam.

Delivering the keynote address, Hanif Gohar emphasized that stronger regional integration
requires practical initiatives beyond conventional trade. He proposed joint ventures in corporate
farming, technology and digital services, and improved transport and logistics connectivity. His
key proposal was an “ASEAN Business Visa Sticker’—a proposed one-year, multiple-entry
business travel facilitation mechanism for eligible FPCCI members, subject to participating
countries’ approval. He also called for facilitating multiple-entry visas for ASEAN investors,
restoring direct flights between Karachi and Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Manila, and
strengthening correspondent banking relations.

H.E. Dr. Emmanuel R. Fernandez appreciated FPCCI’s initiative and assured participants that
proposals concerning the Business Forum and visa facilitation would be conveyed to relevant
ASEAN capitals. He also highlighted opportunities for cooperation with the Philippines in rice,
halal products, IT and manpower development. Other ASEAN diplomatic representatives shared
their respective countries’ perspectives and welcomed stronger B2B engagement, single-country
exhibitions and regular consultations.

Bashir Jan Muhammad, Chairman, Pakistan-Malaysia Business Council of FPCCI, stressed the
importance of an early Pakistan-Malaysia trade agreement review and greater cooperation in
halal certification, Islamic banking, palm oil value addition, construction and tourism. He also
announced plans for a business delegation to Malaysia in early 2027.

Chief Guest Irfan Soomro assured FPCCI of MOFA’s support for private-sector-led economic
diplomacy and the consideration of proposals relating to visas, trade agreements and
connectivity.

The Roundtable concluded with a resolve to develop a two-year Pakistan-ASEAN Business
Cooperation Roadmap and institutionalize quarterly FPCCI-ACI meetings, with the FPCCI
Committee on Diplomacy serving as the proposed coordinating secretariat to translate dialogue
into tangible trade and investment opportunities.

Brig Iftikhar Opel, SI (M), Retd.

Secretary General