A four-day official visit to Hyderabad and
Mirpurkhas Divisions, aimed at boosting
trade, investment, and cultural ties
Staff Reporter
Karachi: Bangladesh’s Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi, S.M. Mahbubul Alam, conducted a significant visit to Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas Divisions from July 24 to 27, 2025. During the tour, he met prominent businesspersons and key representatives from the Jamshoro, Mirpurkhas, and Umerkot Chambers of Commerce and Industry, alongside members of the local business community. The President, Senior Vice President, Vice Presidents, Secretary, and other office bearers of the JCCI (Jamshoro), MCCI (Mirpurkhas), and Metropolitan Business Community in Umerkot warmly welcomed the Bangladeshi diplomat.
High-Level Government and Business Engagements During Visit
As part of his outreach, the Deputy High Commissioner held meetings with Commissioner Hyderabad, Deputy Commissioners of Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas, Assistant Commissioner Umerkot, and the Regional Head of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) in Hyderabad. He also visited the Thar Museum and the birthplace of Emperor Akbar in Umerkot, engaging with officials and cultural activists.
Upcoming Trade Events and Export Opportunities Discussed
The envoy emphasized the robust trade and investment potential between Bangladesh and Pakistan, highlighting upcoming trade events, including the 3rd “Made in Pakistan Exhibition” in Bangladesh scheduled for September 2025, a TDAP-led business delegation visit in October 2025, and the “Leather & Leather Products Exhibition” organized by the Tanners’ Association of Pakistan in November. He identified export opportunities for Bangladeshi products such as jute, pharmaceuticals, leather, plastics, ceramics, handicrafts, chemicals, tea, jackfruit, pineapple, tobacco, scrap vessels, and textile fibers. He also pointed to strong joint venture potential in IT, cement, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and jute industries.
Call for Business Delegations and Joint Ventures
The Deputy High Commissioner extended formal invitations to Pakistani business delegations to visit Bangladesh and participate in the Dhaka International Trade Fair in January 2026. He expressed confidence that bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Pakistan could soon surpass the USD 1 billion mark, given the mutual interest in expanding cooperation.
Expanding Bilateral Trade in Key Sectors
He further noted the high potential for trade in textiles, mineral products, industrial machinery, chemical products, cement, steel, ceramics, marble, sporting goods, surgical instruments, and agricultural commodities like rice, sugar, onions, dates, and citrus fruits. Emphasizing Bangladesh’s foreign investment-friendly policies, he invited Pakistani investors and entrepreneurs to explore business opportunities in Bangladesh. Plans for a Bangladesh single-country exhibition in Pakistan were also discussed to promote Bangladeshi products locally.
Boosting Connectivity Through Air and Sea Links
Highlighting progress in connectivity, the envoy informed that direct flights between Pakistan and Bangladesh would commence soon, facilitating enhanced trade, tourism, cultural exchange, and people-to-people ties. He also noted that direct shipping between Chittagong Port and Karachi Port is already operational.
Local Leaders Emphasize Need for Deeper Bilateral Cooperation
Government officials, business leaders, journalists, and cultural activists in Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Mirpurkhas, and Umerkot echoed the importance of deepening bilateral ties. They underscored the need to identify new areas for export-import collaboration between the two SAARC nations. Local business leaders expressed keen interest in expanding trade and sending delegations to Bangladesh.
Focus on Cultural, Educational, and Academic Exchanges
The Bangladeshi diplomat and regional dignitaries emphasized strengthening cooperation in culture, education, tourism, science, and student exchanges. The Deputy High Commissioner invited cultural groups, academic institutions, and media professionals from Pakistan to visit Bangladesh and assured full support from the Bangladesh Mission in Karachi, including facilitation of priority visas for all delegations.
