Islamabad (TDI): President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Atif Ikram Sheikh, has issued a strong call to action for Pakistan’s exporting community, positioning Export Expo Pakistan 2026 as a critical lifeline for the country’s struggling manufacturing and export sectors.
Scheduled for April 25–27, 2026, at the Le Méridien Dubai Hotel and Conference Centre, the three-day event will be Pakistan’s first dedicated international export expo, designed exclusively to connect Pakistani exporters with global buyers, investors, and procurement heads.
In a statement, Sheikh described the expo as more than a conventional trade exhibition, against the backdrop of mounting economic pressures
He termed it a “survival bridge” for Pakistan’s industrial base, which he said is under severe strain due to high energy costs, taxation, and shrinking competitiveness in international markets.
“The time for incremental steps is over,” Sheikh said. “With electricity tariffs hovering around 12.5 cents and industrial taxes approaching 40 percent, our exporters are fighting a global trade war with their hands tied.”
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“Our manufacturing heartland is on a ventilator, which is why I have called for an industrial emergency.” However, he emphasized that waiting for domestic policy reforms alone is no longer an option.
According to the FPCCI president, Export Expo Pakistan 2026 represents a strategic shift, taking Pakistan’s business-to-business outreach directly to Dubai, one of the world’s most influential commercial hubs.
“By moving our B2B operations to Dubai, the global nerve center of trade, we are creating a high-competitiveness zone for Pakistani products,” he said.
“This expo is not just an event; it is a roadmap to inject foreign exchange into our economy and demonstrate that ‘Made in Pakistan’ can compete and dominate when given a fair stage.”
The expo will be supported by strategic partners from the United Arab Emirates and will facilitate exclusive meetings with UAE-based chambers of commerce, institutional buyers, and private investor groups, many of whom are typically difficult for Pakistani exporters to access directly.
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The national importance of the event is underscored by the participation of Syedaal Khan Nasar, Deputy Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan, who will attend as Chief Guest alongside Sheikh himself, signaling state backing for the initiative.
Export Expo Pakistan 2026 will focus on Pakistan’s core export strengths, including textiles, surgical instruments, information technology, sports goods, and agri-based industries, with tailored B2B matchmaking sessions targeting GCC and international procurement leaders.
“We are heading to Dubai to secure our future,” Sheikh concluded. “With the patronage of FPCCI and the support of the UAE’s leadership and business community, we invite Pakistani exporters to join us and turn today’s industrial crisis into a global export victory.”
Established in December 2008, The Diplomatic Insight is Pakistan’s premier diplomacy and foreign affairs magazine, available in both digital and print formats.
