'Even Albaik isn't coming to Pakistan'; Miftah's humorous response to KP advisor

Awaam Pakistan Party leader Miftah Ismail took an unveiled jab at the incumbent government when an adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) on Finance, Muzammil Aslam, said on Thursday that despite signing several Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with multiple countries, only Saudi Arabia's popular fast food chain Albaik agreement was finalised.

During a show on a private media outlet, Aslam, while calling out the incumbent government, asked, “Just tell me, if Pakistan progressed so much, then how much Foreign Direct Investment actually came into Pakistan?”

Ismail chimed in, saying that Aslam was mistaken about Saudi’s popular food chain coming to Pakistan, “Albaik is not coming to Pakistan. If they were, they would have at least mentioned the city where they are opening the branch.”

“So, I’m expecting that even Albaik is not coming to Pakistan,” he said, and the whole panel, including Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Ahsan Afzal, Muzammil Aslam, and the programme host Mohammad Malick, burst into laughter.

Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan had earlier said in Jeddah that Albaik will open outlets in the country’s major cities. He had also met with the Albaik owner, Rami Abu Ghazala.

As per media reports, during Kamal’s visit to Albaik’s plants, the Saudi food giant had confirmed that its plan to launch operations in Pakistan was in its final stages following the signing of an MOU.

The commerce minister appreciated the contributions of Pakistani workers within Saudi businesses like Albaik and welcomed the brand's entry into Pakistan, highlighting its potential to enhance the country's fast-food industry and consumer market.

In another significant meeting, he met with Pakistani investors and business leaders in Jeddah, recognising their contributions to Saudi Arabia's economy. He acknowledged that 1.7 million Pakistanis travelled to Saudi Arabia in the past five years, making it the top destination for Pakistani emigrants.

In November 2024, the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, while speaking to the media in Lahore, had also indicated that Albaik was gearing up to come to Pakistan.

Tarar said, “Saudi investments are growing. Agreements [between both nations] have now exceeded $6 billion. Al Baik is on its way to Pakistan, and Aramco has opened its first fuel station here.”

Underscoring Pakistan’s improving global economic standing, the information minister pointed out that multiple allied countries are now looking to expand their investments in the country. He further said that Qatar intends to invest $3 billion, while Azerbaijan has plans to contribute $2 billion.