Key Takeaways
- Pakistan and the UK have agreed to enhance bilateral trade cooperation.
- A new structured economic framework is being considered for their existing dialogue.
- The Small Business Growth Academy will train 1,000 SMEs in digital skills.
Pakistan and the United Kingdom (UK) have decided to intensify their bilateral trade engagement, aiming to enhance business-to-business cooperation and explore upgrading their current trade dialogue into a more structured economic framework. This decision was made during a meeting between Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and British High Commissioner Jane Marriott at the Ministry of Commerce in Islamabad on Thursday.
During the meeting, Minister Kamal Khan highlighted Pakistan's ongoing efforts to advance tariff rationalisation, digitalisation, and regulatory reforms aimed at improving competitiveness and facilitating business. He noted that predictable tariffs, improved access to finance, and affordable industrial inputs would enable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), e-commerce ventures, and export-oriented businesses to expand into new markets.
The minister identified Africa and Central Asia as promising export destinations and stressed the need for enhanced cooperation in standards, certification, traceability, environmental compliance, and value addition. High Commissioner Marriott appreciated Pakistan’s ongoing economic reforms and said the UK is considering transforming the existing Trade Dialogue into a stronger institutional mechanism with defined sectors, dedicated working groups, and clear implementation timelines.
Secretary Commerce Jawad Paul informed the meeting that two Pakistan–UK working groups are already operational, while additional groups have been proposed to broaden the scope of cooperation. He also emphasised the need to strengthen the role of the UK–Pakistan Business Council in facilitating trade, promoting investment, and developing commercially viable projects.
The minister further noted that Pakistan is reinforcing its intellectual property enforcement regime, with the appointment of a new Chairman of the Intellectual Property Organisation of Pakistan expected soon. Both sides agreed to maintain close coordination and work towards holding the next Pakistan–UK Trade Dialogue in Islamabad in autumn this year.
Separately, Minister Kamal Khan met a delegation from Meta, led by Tehara Punchihewa and Vivian Liang. The delegation introduced the Small Business Growth Academy, a programme aimed at training 1,000 SMEs across Pakistan between August and November 2026 on digital platforms, AI-powered tools, and online marketing strategies. The initiative will be implemented by local partner AtomCamp and offered free of cost.
Welcoming the initiative, Minister Kamal Khan said the government is placing digitalisation at the centre of its reform agenda, with efforts underway to improve governance, service delivery, and economic competitiveness through technology. He informed the delegation that Pakistan is finalising a comprehensive e-commerce policy, while work on an artificial intelligence policy is also in progress to promote innovation and technology-driven growth.
The minister emphasised that artificial intelligence should be viewed as a strategic tool for policy analysis, data-driven decision-making, business intelligence, and public sector efficiency, rather than merely a conversational technology. He highlighted the ministry’s priorities, including digital trade, e-commerce, and the use of technology to boost exports and strengthen engagement with international markets.
Pakistan is advancing tariff rationalisation, digitalisation, and regulatory reforms to improve competitiveness and facilitate business.
Jam Kamal Khan, Federal Minister for Commerce
The UK is considering transforming the existing Trade Dialogue into a stronger institutional mechanism with defined sectors, dedicated working groups, and clear implementation timelines.
Jane Marriott, British High Commissioner (HC)
