Bangladesh High Commissioner Sees Multi-Billion-Dollar Potential in Pakistan-Bangladesh Trade

By Farzana Chaudhry | Lahore, Pakistan

LAHORE: Bangladesh High Commissioner Md Iqbal Hussain Khan has highlighted significant untapped potential for expanding trade between Pakistan and Bangladesh, saying bilateral trade currently stands at around US$1 billion, while the actual potential runs into several billion dollars.

Speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), he stressed the need for stronger cooperation, improved trade connectivity, removal of trade barriers and closer engagement between the business communities of the two countries to unlock new economic opportunities.

LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar, Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani, Vice President Chaudhry Khadim Hussain, Honorary Consul of Bangladesh Qazi Humayun Fareed, and LCCI Executive Committee Members Naila Nadeem, Shahzad Ali Shah and Amir Ata Barry also addressed the gathering.

The High Commissioner identified agriculture, textiles, pharmaceuticals, engineering, food processing, chemicals, minerals, education, healthcare and tourism as promising sectors for bilateral collaboration. He noted that Pakistani businesses had participated in Made in Pakistan exhibitions in Bangladesh, while Bangladeshi business participation was expected at an international exhibition in Karachi in November.

He highlighted opportunities for Bangladesh to import Pakistani maize, rice, basmati rice, textile raw materials, chemicals, minerals and manufactured goods. Other potential export items include sugar, wheat, cereals and spices. He added that Bangladeshi pineapples had started reaching Pakistan following the necessary clearances, while seasonal fruits, agricultural products and jaggery could further diversify bilateral trade.

The High Commissioner also called for easier business visas, improved e-visa procedures and stronger direct air connectivity. He said Pakistan could serve as a gateway to Central Asia, while Bangladesh offered access to Southeast Asian markets.

Highlighting educational and tourism opportunities, he said more than 100 Bangladeshi students were studying at private universities in Pakistan. He also identified potential for scholarships, medical tourism and tourism partnerships, including visits to Bangladesh’s coastal areas and Pakistan’s northern regions.

LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar proposed establishing a dedicated Bangladesh trade cell under the supervision of the Senior Vice President to coordinate bilateral business activities and ensure practical follow-up.

He suggested identifying five priority export sectors, establishing institutional links with a leading chamber in Dhaka or Chittagong, and arranging two to three virtual business-to-business (B2B) meetings. These would be followed by sector-specific meetings, trade delegations and reciprocal business visits.

Inviting Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to explore partnerships in Lahore, Asghar stressed the need for a practical roadmap with measurable outcomes.

He said Pakistan and Bangladesh must move beyond discussions and adopt a result-oriented strategy to realise their full trade potential. Identifying exportable products, connecting potential buyers and suppliers, and establishing direct institutional links between business communities were essential steps, he added.

Asghar assured the visiting delegation that LCCI was ready to facilitate business delegations, sector-specific B2B meetings and joint ventures to help Pakistani businesses enter the Bangladeshi market and attract investment. He said stronger economic ties with Bangladesh aligned with the chamber’s commitment to export-led growth, market diversification and new opportunities for the business community.

LCCI Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani called for reversing the downward trend in bilateral trade and increasing its volume to at least US$2 billion. He identified opportunities in pharmaceuticals, textiles, textile machinery, rice, cement, agriculture, food processing, information technology, engineering, light manufacturing and services.

Ghani urged businesses to pursue joint ventures and investment partnerships while improving shipping arrangements, customs procedures, documentation and the exchange of market intelligence. He assured the delegation of LCCI’s support in organising B2B meetings, exhibitions and business visits.

Vice President Chaudhry Khadim Hussain, while presenting the vote of thanks, expressed confidence that joint ventures and coordinated efforts could take bilateral trade and investment to new heights. He called for easier travel arrangements and more B2B meetings, particularly in the cosmetics sector, and highlighted Pakistan’s capacity to supply pharmaceutical packaging machinery, industrial equipment and raw materials.

LCCI Executive Committee Member Naila Nadeem identified opportunities in medical sciences, agricultural equipment, packaging and food processing. Referring to her previous mineral-water exports to Bangladesh, she pointed to visa documentation, payment procedures and banking difficulties as barriers requiring attention.

Executive Committee Member Shahzad Ali Shah highlighted Pakistan’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity, citing more than 1,500 pharmaceutical plants. He also identified opportunities in medical tourism, including hair transplantation, cosmetic procedures and dental treatment.

Executive Committee Member Amir Ata Barry highlighted potential collaboration in textiles, engineering and industrial manufacturing, including vehicles, pressure vessels and other industrial equipment.

The participants expressed the need for stronger institutional coordination, improved trade facilitation and sustained business-to-business engagement to translate the considerable economic potential between Pakistan and Bangladesh into increased trade, investment and mutually beneficial commercial partnerships.