Saudi Arabia’s popular fast-food giant Al-Baik is finally coming to Pakistan with an agreement now in its final stages, media reports said.

 

According to reports, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, who is currently in the Kingdom for a Pakistan-made products expo, has discussed with the fast-food brand’s owner, Rami Abu Ghazala, the operational framework and potential locations for Al-Baik’s branches across major Pakistani cities.

 

While details of these locations and an exact launch date is yet to be revealed, the commerce ministry has also confirmed the development. “The first AlBaik branches in Pakistan are expected to open soon, creating new job opportunities and strengthening economic ties between the two nations,” it said in a statement Saturday.

 

 

Khan also met with other prominent Saudi businessmen to explore avenues for strengthening bilateral trade ties. He highlighted Pakistan’s improving business environment, facilitated by initiatives like the single window system and the national compliance centre.

 

Saudi investors, reports said, are interested to invest in Pakistan’s energy, agriculture, IT and construction sectors.

 

Earlier, while inaugurating Pakistan’s first ever single-country ‘Made in Pakistan’ exhibition in Jeddah, the minister stressed the significance of economic collaboration between the two countries, outlining numerous avenues where Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were collaborating with respect to the economy.

 

He also extended his appreciation towards Saudi officials for their support in setting up the entire event, and said the exhibition was an embodiment of the lasting Pakistan-Saudi bilateral ties.

 

The minister said that strategic partnership was strengthened by shared cultural ties and a common religion, and outlined how Pakistan’s goods and services would gain traction by being displayed at the exhibition.

 

The minister said he intends to increase investment inflows into the country while improving trade relations with Saudi Arabia. According to him, this will be possible by closely following a certain economic roadmap.

 

Reports said the minister also commented on how the two countries could potentially collaborate on issues pertaining to food security, mining, energy and human resource (HR) development. He mentioned that Pakistan could leverage its growing industrial base and flexible economy to work on collaborative projects.

 

Kamal said that Saudi investments would be prioritised in the country and that investors could go through channels set up by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to benefit from investment opportunities. Islamabad’s stance seems to be one of utilising Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to boost investment inflows into the country.

 

While congratulating the Kingdom for winning the rights to host the 2034 FIFA World cup, the minister also took the opportunity to display Pakistan’s football manufacturing industry. He said that Pakistan would continue to produce footballs for World Cup events.