Punjab Invites Canadian Investors, Offering Opportunities Across Dairy, AI, Textiles, Energy, Education, Mobile Manufacturing and Pink Salt
Report: Mehboob Ali Shaikh
Toronto: A significant development has emerged in efforts to strengthen trade and investment ties between Pakistan and Canada. Punjab Minister for Industries, Commerce and Investment Chaudhry Shafay Hussain has extended an open invitation to Canadian investors to invest in Punjab, offering opportunities across a wide range of sectors, including dairy, artificial intelligence (AI), textiles, energy, education, mobile phone manufacturing, electric vehicles, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments and pink salt.
Speaking during a special interaction with Mehboob Shaikh during his detailed visit to the Consulate of Pakistan in Toronto, on the occasion of a luncheon hosted by Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Canada Muhammad Saleem and Pakistan’s Consul General in Toronto Khaleel Bajwa, Chaudhry Shafay Hussain said there is tremendous potential to take Pakistan-Canada trade and investment relations to new heights.
10-Year Tax Exemptions in Industrial Zones, Zero Duty on Machinery
The provincial minister said investors are being offered a range of incentives in Punjab’s free zones and industrial estates. Investors establishing industries in free zones will benefit from zero-percent duty on imported machinery, while certain industrial zones are offering income tax exemptions for up to 10 years.
He said electricity and gas facilities are available in industrial zones, while the government has established its own grid stations in several industrial estates, providing electricity at comparatively lower rates.
Crackdown on Industrial Plot Hoarding, Construction Must Begin Within Six Months
Chaudhry Shafay Hussain said the Punjab government has taken strict action against the practice of hoarding industrial plots and holding them for years without establishing factories.
Under the new policy, investors acquiring industrial plots will be required to start construction within six months. If a factory is not established within two years, the plot will be cancelled.
He said investors are also being offered 40- to 50-year leases at affordable rates.
Invitation to Overseas Pakistanis to Invest in Punjab
The provincial minister urged Pakistanis living in Canada to take advantage of investment opportunities available in Punjab’s free zones and industrial estates.
He said a major industrial estate covering more than 1,000 acres has been established in Faisalabad, while another industrial estate spanning more than 400 acres is operating in Rahim Yar Khan. Industrial infrastructure is also being expanded in Vehari and other parts of Punjab.
NOCs Within 30 Days: Business Facilitation Centres Playing Key Role
According to Chaudhry Shafay Hussain, Punjab has established Business Facilitation Centres over the past two-and-a-half to three years. These centres enable local and foreign investors to obtain the necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs) within approximately 30 days, without having to visit multiple government departments.
Vivo Mobile Manufacturing, Lithium Batteries and Electric Bikes See Progress
The provincial minister said significant progress has been made on a project by Chinese company Vivo to manufacture mobile phones in Pakistan, with approximately 40 percent of the project’s building work completed.
He said work is also underway on lithium batteries, electric bikes and other advanced industrial projects, while a Pharmaceutical Valley covering more than 200 acres is also being established.
Canada and U.S. Major Markets for Sialkot Surgical Instruments
Chaudhry Shafay Hussain said surgical instruments manufactured in Sialkot have significant markets in the United States and Canada.
He added that there are also extensive opportunities for Canadian investors in Punjab’s ceramics, artificial leather, sports goods, tiles and other industrial sectors.
Special Focus on Value Addition of Pakistani Pink Salt
The Punjab government is also placing special emphasis on the value addition of Pakistan’s famous pink salt and Himalayan salt.
An industrial estate covering more than 200 acres is being established in Quaidabad for salt value addition. The objective is to increase the value of the product in Pakistan rather than exporting raw salt, thereby generating greater economic returns in international markets.
Interest-Free Financing: Business Support From Rs. 1 Million to Rs. 1 Billion
Addressing overseas Pakistanis, the provincial minister said that under the Asaan Karobar Scheme, plans are in place to provide financial support for businesses through the Bank of Punjab starting in October.
According to him, financing ranging from Rs. 1 million to Rs. 50 million will be available for small and medium-sized businesses, while larger businesses will have access to financing of up to Rs. 1 billion.
He said the loans would be provided interest-free, and every eligible applicant would be able to apply regardless of political affiliation.
Not MOUs, but Projects on the Ground Are the Real Measure of Success
Chaudhry Shafay Hussain emphasized that governments come and go and major MOUs are frequently signed, but the real measure of success is whether projects actually materialize on the ground after agreements are signed.
He said that out of 16 MOUs signed with China, four projects have already moved into practical implementation, including mobile phone manufacturing, lithium batteries, electric bikes and other industrial projects.
More Than 300,000 Pakistanis: A Key Bridge Between Pakistan and Canada
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Canada Muhammad Saleem said the Pakistani community in Canada numbers more than 300,000, with Pakistanis living across the country from Vancouver to St. John’s.
Chaudhry Shafay Hussain described the Pakistani community as an important bridge between Pakistan and Canada in promoting trade, investment and business ties, encouraging overseas Pakistanis to take advantage of investment opportunities available in Pakistan.
The Real Test: Turning MOUs Into Practical Partnerships
The Punjab Minister for Industries, Commerce and Investment’s visit to Canada has highlighted new possibilities for strengthening economic relations between the two countries.
The key question now is whether these investment offers will move beyond MOUs and translate into real, sustainable projects and long-term partnerships between Pakistani and Canadian investors.
Dairy, AI, textiles, energy, education, mobile manufacturing, electric vehicles, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments and pink salt could emerge as key pillars of future trade and investment cooperation between Pakistan and Canada.
