Spokesman Report
Islamabad, June 8, 2026: The Azerbaijan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce & Industry (APJCCI) and Kasur Chamber of Commerce & Industry signed Memorandum of Understanding in Islamabad to strengthen institutional cooperation, promote trade and investment linkages, and explore new business opportunities between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.
Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, Patron-in-Chief APJCCI, welcomed the delegation of Kasur Chamber and said that APJCCI is committed to promoting trade, investment, business linkages, joint ventures and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan. He said that a large number of Pakistani companies are now showing interest in Azerbaijan, particularly in the areas of trade, tourism, food products, FMCG, cutlery, towels, leather, footwear, rice, agriculture, logistics and services. He emphasized the need to create genuine two-way business between Pakistan and Azerbaijan and said that APJCCI would extend full support in connecting Pakistani companies with potential buyers, importers, distributors, chambers and relevant business organizations in Azerbaijan.
Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari also invited the business community of Kasur to participate in the next APJCCI business delegation to Azerbaijan and said that such visits would provide practical opportunities for B2B meetings, market study, trade promotion and institutional linkages.
Kashif Naeem Khokhar, President Kasur Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said that Kasur is an important industrial and agricultural district, famous for agriculture, rice, food products, leather, footwear, textiles and other sectors. He said that Kasur Chamber would work closely with APJCCI to promote exports, identify business opportunities and strengthen trade relations with Azerbaijan.
He said that Kasur needs to be made more export-oriented and that the Chamber wants to develop Kasur as an industrial hub. He said that Kasur Chamber has established a Business Resource Center to facilitate local enterprises. He also shared that there are more than 150 cold storage facilities and many opportunities exist for collaboration in storage, distribution, food supply chains and value-added exports.
Haji M. Akram Zaki, Senior Vice President Kasur Chamber, said that Kasur has strong export potential in towels, khamas, rice and other quality products. He also discussed the scope of hoteling, tourism and hospitality opportunities in Baku and stressed the need to explore new areas of cooperation for the business community of Kasur.
Junaid Husnain, Vice President Kasur Chamber of Commerce & Industry, gave a detailed presentation and said that Kasur has strong industrial, agricultural and tourism potential. He said that Kasur has major leather and shoe industries, more than 100 tanneries, over 600 small shoe manufacturing units and around 1,000 to 1,500 cottage industry units.
He further said that Kasur has more than 150 rice mills, major packaging units, food industries, and export potential in rice, spices, turmeric, Kasuri methi, red chilli, leather, shoes and agriculture-based products. He said that Pattoki is one of the biggest flower markets, but its export potential needs to be properly developed. He also highlighted opportunities in tourism, including Changa Manga Forest, religious tourism linked with the shrine of Baba Bulleh Shah and other cultural assets.
At the end of the ceremony, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, Patron-in-Chief APJCCI, presented shield of APJCCI to Kashif Naeem Khokhar, President Kasur Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Kashif also presented Gifts to Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari.
