Report: ANI Correspondent:
ISLAMABAD — A delegation of the US-Pak Trade Organization, led by its Chairman Rashid Humayun, visited the Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industries, where it held an important meeting with Chamber President Awais Ahmed Satti. The meeting focused on strengthening Pakistan-US trade relations, promoting exports, expanding business opportunities and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The delegation was welcomed by Chamber President Awais Ahmed Satti, Vice President Sardar Zaheer Ahmed, Umer Abbasi, Qazi Ilyas, Amjad Abbasi, Waheed Mahmood Khan, Imran Shabbir Abbasi, Ahmed Ali Abbasi, Asif Rajpoot, Rana Javed, Shams-ul-Haq, Ms Hurish Shah, Dr Maheen Touqeer, Usman M, and other chamber officials and members.
Speaking on the occasion, Awais Ahmed Satti said that trade organizations and chambers play an important role in strengthening Pakistan’s export capacity and connecting local businesses with international markets. He said stronger coordination between the US-Pak Trade Organization and the Islamabad Chamber could create new opportunities for Pakistani products in the American market.
He shared details of his previous international trade engagements, including business visits to Malaysia in January and June 2024 and a 15-member business delegation from Islamabad to Barcelona in November 2025. He also highlighted the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Recalling the Barcelona visit, he said a scheduled 30-minute meeting with the chamber’s president extended to approximately 90 minutes after Pakistani products, including leather wallets, bags and rice, were presented. He said Pakistani leather goods, rice and pink salt have considerable potential in European markets, stressing the need for effective branding and direct market access.
He further said that the Barcelona Chamber had invited Pakistani businesses to organize a “Made in Pakistan” exhibition. He emphasized that future trade delegations should include representatives from the pharmaceutical, chemical, leather and SME sectors to explore wider international opportunities.
Chairman of the US-Pak Trade Organization Rashid Humayun said the organization originated in Maryland, United States, and Pakistan is currently its only international chapter. He referred to discussions involving Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, D.C., regarding the development of an active platform to strengthen bilateral trade and business relations.
He said that over the past two years, several business delegations representing FPCCI and chambers of commerce from Islamabad, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Karachi and Lahore had visited the United States to explore business and investment opportunities.
Rashid Humayun informed the meeting that two warehouses, one in Maryland and another in New York, with a combined area of approximately 40,000 square feet, had been established to facilitate Pakistani exporters and SMEs. These facilities would help connect Pakistani manufacturers directly with American buyers through Pakistani diaspora business networks.
He also introduced PK Bid (pkbid.com), an online business platform designed to connect Pakistani and American buyers and sellers. He said Pakistani businesses could register free of charge and upload their products without hidden fees, providing them with additional opportunities to reach international customers.
Rashid Humayun invited the Islamabad Chamber to work closely with the US-Pak Trade Organization and encouraged President Awais Ahmed Satti to join an upcoming business delegation to the United States. He also proposed holding coordination meetings at least once every three months to review progress, address challenges and develop a joint agenda for promoting bilateral trade.
The participants expressed their commitment to strengthening institutional cooperation, facilitating Pakistani exporters and creating practical opportunities for SMEs to access international markets. They agreed that sustained coordination between trade organizations and chambers could contribute significantly to expanding Pakistan-US commercial relations.
