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EMBASSY OF PAKISTAN (COMMERCIAL SECTION) DOHA Monthly Report for the Month of August, 2017 1. Overview of bilateral trade. Trade US$ Million (1) Apr-Jun 2017 (2) August 2017 (3) July 2017 (4) August 2016 (5) July 2016 (6) % Change July-August (7) Pak Export 17.360 6.634 5.643 5.004 3.222 49.25% Pak Import 354.90 145.768 102.951 75.880 70.565 69.84% Note 1: The monthly export and import data in columns (3) to (6) constitute the latest figures for a month available at the State Bank of Pakistan website. Note 2: The consolidated data provided in column (2) for the June quarter is from Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics, Qatar. 2. Trade Promotion Activities A. Visit of Delegation from FPCCI A high-level delegation of Pakistani businesses visited Doha from 12 th to 14 th August, 2017 in an effort to boost trade and investment opportunities between the brotherly Islamic countries. The visit had been arranged on the invitation of Qatar Chambers of Commerce & Industry (QCCI) but materialised as a result of long- standing efforts of the Embassy of Pakistan, Doha under the leadership of H.E. Shahzad Ahmad, the Ambassador of Pakistan to Doha, for enhancing bilateral trade between Pakistan and Qatar. 1

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Page 1: mail.tdap.gov.pk Report... · Web viewMr. Mohammad Jawed Akhai, Chairman, M/s. Martin Dow Limited Mr. Azher Shamim Anwar, Managing Director, M/s. Bahria Foundation Mr. Moeen Ahmad

EMBASSY OF PAKISTAN(COMMERCIAL SECTION)

DOHAMonthly Report for the Month of August, 2017

1. Overview of bilateral trade. Trade US$

Million(1)

Apr-Jun 2017(2)

August 2017

(3)

July 2017

(4)

August 2016

(5)

July 2016

(6)

% ChangeJuly-August

(7)

Pak Export 17.360 6.634 5.643 5.004 3.222 49.25%

Pak Import 354.90 145.768 102.951 75.880 70.565 69.84%

Note 1: The monthly export and import data in columns (3) to (6) constitute the latest figures for a month available at the State Bank of Pakistan website.

Note 2: The consolidated data provided in column (2) for the June quarter is from Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics, Qatar.

2. Trade Promotion Activities

A.Visit of Delegation from FPCCI

A high-level delegation of Pakistani businesses visited Doha from 12th to 14th August, 2017 in an effort to boost trade and investment opportunities between the brotherly Islamic countries. The visit had been arranged on the invitation of Qatar Chambers of Commerce & Industry (QCCI) but materialised as a result of long-standing efforts of the Embassy of Pakistan, Doha under the leadership of H.E. Shahzad Ahmad, the Ambassador of Pakistan to Doha, for enhancing bilateral trade between Pakistan and Qatar.

2. The delegation was led by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) President Mr. Zubair K. Tufail and comprised leading businessmen belonging to food, agriculture, shipping, pharmaceutical, textiles and chemicals sectors. Details of the delegates are provided below:

Mr. Zubair Tufail (Leader of the Delegation), President FPCCI Muhammad Adrees, Former President FPCCI &

CHAIRMAN/CEO Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development & Management company (FIEDMC)

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Mr. Mehmood Arshad, Chairman Pakistan-Qatar Business Council of FPCCI & Proprietor, M/s Tawun

Mr. Mohammad Jawed Akhai, Chairman, M/s. Martin Dow Limited

Mr. Azher Shamim Anwar, Managing Director, M/s. Bahria Foundation

Mr. Moeen Ahmad Warraich, General Manager (Maritime Services), M/s. Bahria Foundation

Mr. Muhammad Mustafa Kamal, MD, M/s. Big Bird Foods (Pvt) Ltd

Mr. Haroon Shafiq Chaudhary, CEO, Hac Agri Ltd Syed Ali Aamir, Group Director Finance & IT, M/s Martin Dow

Limited Mr. Asim Mustafa, Director, Getz Pharma Mr. Nadeem Rehmat, C.O.O ( Plant & B.D), M/s. Pharmevo

(Pvt) Ltd. Mr. Atiq Kochra, Korangi Association of Trade & Industry

(KATI)

3. The delegates arrived over two days i.e. 12th and 13th

August, 2017 and Embassy of Pakistan made special arrangements for receiving them through the VIP Lounge. Throughout the visit, the logistic arrangements were made by the Embassy of Pakistan through assistance from the Qatar Chambers of Commerce & Industry and local Pakistani community without any financial obligation.

B2B MEETINGS

4. During their stay in Doha, the delegates through the active assistance of the Commercial Section, Embassy of Pakistan were able to participate in B2B meetings with prominent business leaders as well as the heads of Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani Qatar) and Pharmaceutical and Drug Control Department, Ministry of Public Health. Whereas the formal request for arranging the said meetings was received from FPCCI only on 8th August, 2017, the Embassy of Pakistan pro-actively pursued the relevant organisations and successfully organised various meetings, some even simultaneously. Accordingly, on 13th, 14th and 15th August following B2B meetings were organised:

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13th August, 2017

Time Meeting with Attended by9:00am to 10:00am Mohamed Badr

Hashem Al-Sada, Chief Executive Officer, M/s Hassad Food

Mr. Zubair Tufail (Leader of the Delegation), President FPCCI, HE Shahzad Ahmad, Ambassador of Pakistan, Mr.Muhammad Adrees, Former President FPCCI & Chairman/CEO FIEDMC, Mr. Mehmood Arshad, Chairman Pakistan-Qatar Business Council of FPCCI, Mr. Muhammad Mustafa Kamal, MD, M/s. Big Bird Foods (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Haroon Shafiq Chaudhary, CEO, Hac Agri LtdMr. Atiq Kochra, KATI and Mr. Salman Ali, Commercial Secretary, Doha

10:00am to 12:00pm Own Factory Initiative for Medical Segment at the Ministry of Economy and Trade in Lusail.

On the sidelines of the conference, the delegates had the chance to communicate with Dr. Aisha Ibrahim Al-Ansari, Director, Pharmacy & Drug Control Department, Ministry of Public Health and her deputy Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Hussein (Head of drug registration unit).

Mr.Javed Akhai, CEO Martin Dow Pharma, Mr.Asim Mustafa, Director Getz Pharma, Mr.Nadeem Rehmat, COO, PharmEvo, Mr. Ali Aamir, Group Director Finance & IT, Martin Dow Limited along with Mr. Mohamed Mansoor, Trade Development Officer, Embassy of Pakistan and Ms. Saba (Translator)

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10:30am to 11:30am Capt. Abdulla Al Khanji,CEO Mwani, Qatar (Qatar Ports Management Company) and Capt. Abdul Aziz, Director of Hamad Port at the Hamad Port Office of the CEO.

Vice Admiral Azher Shamim Anwer (retd) Managing Director Bahria Foundation and he will be accompanied by Cdre Moeen Warraich (Retd) GM Bahria Foundation and Cdre Irfan Taj, Defence Attaché, Embassy of Pakistan.

11:00am to 12:00pm Mr.Faisal Abbas Ch., CFA Business Development Department accompanied by Mr. Abdulhadi Ali Al-Hajri, Associate Director, Commodities Department at Qatar Investment Authority

Mr. Zubair Tufail (Leader of the Delegation), President FPCCI, HE Shahzad Ahmad, Ambassador of Pakistan, Mr.Muhammad Adrees, Former President FPCCI & Chairman/CEO FIEDMC, Mr. Mehmood Arshad, Chairman Pakistan-Qatar Business Council of FPCCI, Mr. Muhammad Mustafa Kamal, MD, M/s. Big Bird Foods (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Haroon Shafiq Chaudhary, CEO, Hac Agri LtdMr. Atiq Kochra, KATI and Mr. Salman Ali, Commercial Secretary, Doha

14th August, 2017

Time Meeting with Attended by

8:00 am to 9:30am Meeting with Dr. Aisha Ibrahim Al-Ansari, Director, Pharmacy & Drug Control Department, Ministry of Public Health and

Mr.Javed Akhai, CEO Martin Dow Pharma, Mr.Asim Mustafa, Director Getz Pharma, Mr.Nadeem Rehmat, COO, PharmEvo, Mr. Ali

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her deputy Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Hussein (Head of drug registration unit).

Aamir, Group Director Finance & IT, Martin Dow Limited along with Mr. Mohamed Mansoor, Trade Development Officer, Embassy of Pakistan.

3:00pm to 5:00pm Meeting with Engr.Sherif Shehata, General Manager of Aamal Medical Q.S.C/ Ibn-e-Sina Group (largest distributor of medicines in Qatar)

Mr.Asim Mustafa, Director Getz Pharma, Mr.Nadeem Rehmat, COO, PharmEvo along with Mr. Mohamed Mansoor, Trade Development Officer, Embassy of Pakistan. They were later joined by Mr.Javed Akhai, CEO Martin Dow Pharma and Mr. Ali Aamir, Group Director Finance & IT, Martin Dow Limited.

3:00pm to 4:00pm Abdul Aziz, Head of Business Development, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Mr. Faisal Abbas Ch.

Mr.Javed Akhai, CEO Martin Dow Pharma and Mr. Ali Aamir, Group Director Finance & IT, Martin Dow Limited.

15th August, 2017

Time Meeting with Attended by

10:00am to 11:00am Mr.Faisal Abbas Ch., CFA Business Development Department accompanied by Mr. Abdulhadi Ali Al-Hajri, Associate Director, Commodities Department at Qatar Investment Authority.

Mr. Muhammad Mustafa Kamal, MD, M/s. Big Bird Foods (Pvt) Ltd accompanied by Mr. Mohamed Mansoor, Trade Development Officer, Embassy of Pakistan.

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1ST MEETING OF QATAR-PAKISTAN JOINT BUSINESS COUNCIL

5. During the visit, the inaugural meeting of the Qatar-Pakistan Joint Business Council was held on 14th August, 2017. The agenda of the said meeting was as follows:

Recitation from the Holy Quran Introduction of Members Brief introduction of the members of JBC from both Sides

(Pakistan Chapter and Qatar Chapter) Current Scenario of Pakistan- Qatar mutual trade Investment Opportunities for Pakistani & Qatari Businessmen

in each other’s countries FIFA World Cup 2022 projects and expected role of Pakistani

business community for timely completion of its projects Exchange of delegations on reciprocal basis To consider and discuss the possibility of holding Single

country exhibitions in Qatar and Pakistan on reciprocal basis. (Pakistan Single Country Exhibition/Investment Conference in Doha)

Conclusion and adoption of the report of the meeting.

6. In the absence of the Chairman Qatar Chambers of Commerce & Industry (QCCI) (who was in Turkey at the time), its board members were led by its Vice Chairman Mr. Mohamed bin Towar al-Kuwari. After a detailed introduction of the participants from both sides, Mr. al-Kuwari acknowledged that it was for the first time that Pakistan has sent such a strong delegation of business leaders. He invited Mr. Zubair K. Tufail to address the participants. Mr. Tufail stated that the visit was aimed towards boosting trade relations between the two countries. Mr. Tufail said that Pakistan will focus on food stuff exports to Qatar but he also invited Qatari companies to invest in Pakistan. Citing the example of the steel industry, he said that the steel industry required investment and expressed his desire to see some Qatari private business or investment company to come forward and take part in this investment for steel. Pakistan is importing about 4mn tonnes of steel from Russia, China, and other countries but there are many opportunities for Qatari companies to invest in manufacturing steel products in Pakistan. Aside from the steel industry, Mr. Tufail also invited companies from Qatar to invest in Pakistan’s infrastructure, ports, hospitals, telecommunications, and shopping mall sector. Pakistan has 120mn cell connections with just four companies operating in the telecommunications sector. In Karachi, which has a population of more than 20mn, there are only three to four existing malls. Pakistan for its major cities needed at least 15 to 20 malls for which Qatari companies with experience in this sector were welcome to invest.

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7. Mr. Zubair K. Tufail also stated that Qatar’s exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Pakistan were expected to reach $1bn per year and acknowledged that the LNG from Qatar was going a long way in addressing the perennial power shortage problem faced by the industrial sector in Pakistan. Citing the challenges Pakistan is facing the field of energy supply, Tufail said until last year, the country had endured long power outages lasting to as long as 16 hours per day. According to Tufail, Pakistan receives as much as four LNG cargo ships per month from Qatar. Under the terms of the agreement signed with Pakistan State Oil (PSO) in February 2016, Qatargas 2 is required to supply 3.75mn tonnes a year of LNG to PSO for a period of 15 years. In 2016, Qatar’s exports to Pakistan stood at $685.6mn comprising mainly of petroleum oil and gas, ethylene polymers in its primary shape, organic and chemical products, tools and equipment, and lead (raw). Qatari imports from Pakistan stood at $87.01mn in 2016 comprising of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and peal of citrus; garments and its articles; semi milled or whole cereals; meat and edible meat; profiles and iron pipes; articles of apparel and clothing accessories not knitted or crocheted; other textile articles; and miscellaneous spices.

8. Mr. Tufail also informed the participants that preparations are underway for the establishment of up to two manufacturing facilities in Qatar. In this regard, two Pakistani pharmaceutical companies were considering Joint Ventures with Qatari companies for setting up pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities in Qatar, according to Mr.Tufail. He informed the participants that the Pakistani delegation included delegates from the Pakistani company called Martin Dow, which had four manufacturing units in Pakistan and two plants in France. They had been invited by the Ministry of Public Health, Qatar to establish a manufacturing plant in Qatar. He informed that Martin Dow intended to form a company in Qatar and it planned to manufacture pharmaceutical products in Qatar in a year’s time. Mr. Tufail also stated that Pakistani companies in the food industry were also invited their Qatari counterparts to venture into the country’s poultry sector. A Qatari company is also going to invest in Pakistan’s food industry to secure the maximum quantity of poultry for Qatar. Two Pakistani firms specialising in the food stuff industry also received orders from private companies in Qatar.

9. In his response, Mr. al-Kuwari stated that total trade between the two countries reached QR2.85bn ($783mn) in 2016 with Pakistan being Qatar’s 21st trading partner. He however stated that out of the total Qatari exports to Pakistan, most of them related to the LNG-deal signed in 2016 which was a state-level seal. He exhorted the Qatari businessmen to double the trade. He called on both the Qatari and Pakistani private sector to establish effective

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partnerships and engage in high-value projects that contribute to advancing these relations. He urged the private sector to benefit from the investment opportunities in Pakistan and to partner with Pakistani business owners, especially in the food, pharmaceutical, telecommunications, agriculture, and other sectors. He welcomed the possibility that Qatar could export pharmaceutical products to Europe, Africa, and other parts of the GCC by next year due to establishment of pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities by Pakistani businesses. He acknowledged that the Government in Qatar was positioning Qatar as a regional manufacturing hub and in this regard incentivizing local and foreign investment in setting up of manufacturing facilities.

10. Mr.Mohamed bin Ahmed al-Obaidly, Qatar Chamber board member and Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment, said that the chamber wanted to see Qatar transform into a regional business hub considering the modern facilities and infrastructure in the country, which is why QCCI was trying to attract major investors. He added that QCCI looked forward to seeing Qatari and Pakistani private sector players forge stronger ties and provide added value to the growth in trade exchange between the two countries.

DETAILS OF SALIENT DEVELOPMENTS

Pharmaceutical Sector

11. The developments with respect to the pharmaceutical sector are very promising. The Commercial Section, Embassy of Pakistan through vigorous efforts was able to arrange a very important meeting with the Head of Pharmacy & Drug Control Department, Ministry of Public Health, which is the regulatory authority for drug control in Qatar. That meeting allowed Pakistani entrepreneurs in the pharma sector to explain to the regulator about the processes employed in Pakistan for manufacturing the medicines and the various WHO and other international standards/guidelines complied by these manufacturing facilities. Impressed by the delegates from Pakistan, Dr. Aisha Ibrahim Al-Ansari invited them to send samples of their medicines along with the list of medicines with both their commercial and chemical/scientific names for commencing their registration process. She also urged them to identify local partners/distributors for marketing their medicines once they received approval from the Pharmacy & Drug Control Department.

12. The Commercial Section, thereafter also arranged the meetings of the delegates with the Ibn-e-Sina Group, one of the largest distributors of medicines in Qatar who showed keen interest in buying drugs/medicines from Pakistan. There is a real likelihood

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that one or more Pakistan-based pharmaceutical companies will be able to commence their commercial relationship with Ibn-e-Sina Group very shortly upon receiving registration from the Pharmacy & Drug Control Department.

13. Martin Dow Limited taking benefit of the Own Factory Initiative of the Ministry of Economy and Trade in Lusail, to which the Pakistani delegates gained a belated entry through the efforts of the Embassy of Pakistan, has applied for setting up its manufacturing facility in Qatar. The company has previous experience of setting up a manufacturing facility in France and views Qatar as a hub for exporting its products throughout the GCC region. Investment by Martin Dow in Qatar will in the long term benefit Pakistan due to repatriation of its profits to Pakistan. With the assistance of Embassy of Pakistan, the company’s management is planning a further visit to Qatar after the Eid Break. Martin Dow Limited has also found traction with the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) with a strong possibility of QIA investing in one of Martin Dow’s ventures.

Food Sector

14. Pakistan’s geographical proximity to Qatar and its reputation as a producer of top-notch agricultural and food products places it in a uniquely advantageous position vis-à-vis its regional competitors for increasing its exports to Qatar. During the visit, representatives from M/s. Big Bird Foods (Pvt) Ltd and M/s. Hac Agri Ltd had fruitful discussions with their Qatari counter-parts. M/s Big Bird Foods (Pvt.) Ltd especially had very receptive deliberations at M/s Hassad Food Ltd and Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) regarding its poultry business. M/s Big Bird Foods (Pvt.) Ltd had already been exporting limited quantities of chilled chicken on a trial basis to Lulu Supermarkets in Doha and M/s Hassad Food agreed that its subsidiary Mahaseel could work with M/s Big Bird Foods (Pvt.) Ltd for marketing of its poultry products. In its meeting with QIA, M/s Big Bird Foods (Pvt.) Ltd was asked to submit concrete proposals along with financial feasibility reports, if it sought investment from QIA in enhancement of its production lines. M/s. Hac Agri Ltd is developing state-of-the-art storage facilities in Pakistan for storage of fresh fruits and vegetables. Since this segment of business is still in development phase, nothing concrete could emerge during the discussions. However, privately M/s Hac Agri Ltd which also owns the famous Bunny’s confectionery brand had good discussions regarding distribution of its products in Qatar.

Shipping Sector & maritime cooperation

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15. Pakistan’s surplus port capacity and container terminal facilities can also be put to optimal use by Qatari businesses. In this regard the meeting which Vice Admiral Azher Shamim Anwer had with Capt. Abdulla Al-Khanji, Chief Executive of Mwani Qatar on 13th

August, 2017 held great significance. The meeting had come in the backdrop of a previous meeting which the Ambassador of Pakistan H.E Shahzad Ahmad had with Capt. Abdulla Al-Khanji on 27th July, 2017 in which H.E Shahzad Ahmad urged Mwani Qatar to consider introducing a shipping line for Pakistan. Owing to the consistent efforts of the Embassy of Pakistan, Mwani Qatar had agreed to the commencement of a shipping service between Pakistan and Qatar for facilitation of trade. The meeting between the two naval experts coincided with the arrival of container vessel “Libra”, marking the first call of the weekly direct service from Karachi Port, Pakistan, under PGS (Pakistan- Gulf service) provided by Wan Hai line in partnership with Simatech Shipping. The new shipping line reinforced the objectives of the independence of Hamad Port by receiving containers and goods directly from its sources, within the framework of the Qatar’s Ministry of Transport and Communications’ plan aimed at strengthening Hamad Port’s status regionally and internationally. It will boost trade between Qatar and Pakistan and offer fast and secure solutions for importers and exporters from both countries with a transit time of only six days from Hamad Port to Karachi.

16. The Wan Hai and Simatech Shipping lines plan to operate two vessels of 1,200 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) on the new route with one ship for each one. Thanks to their extensive services, which include many ports in Asia, Europe and the US, exporters and importers will be able to ship their goods regularly to and from Qatar via Karachi.

17. During his visit to the Hamad Port, Vice-Admiral (Retd) Azher Shamim Anwar, Managing Director of Bahria Foundation Pakistan, matters relating to maritime cooperation between Qatar and Pakistan were discussed and it was suggested by the Pakistani side that the future ‘fully operational Gwadar Port’ can take this cooperation to new heights. Vice-Admiral (Retd) Azher Shamim Anwar stated that Bahria Foundation also runs a transshipment hub in Karachi and through its transhipment services, it can facilitate Qatar in its trade arrangements with China. He further suggested that Bahria Foundation’s transshipment hub and other ports of Pakistan are in a position to facilitate Qatar and help Hamad Port become a regional trade hub. He further suggested that at present, Karachi Port and in future Gwadar Port could serve as transshipment centres for Hamad Port. Gwadar being the natural deep seaport and due to its geographical location can handle mother ships. After offloading mother ships at Gwadar Port, goods can be transported to other destinations through cargo ships. In this regard, follow-up

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visits and negotiations between two countries need to continue to fine tune details of cooperation.

B.Meeting with Qatar Primary Materials Co (QPMC)

18. Qatar Primary Materials Co (QPMC) was established on the instruction of the Qatari Government in 2006 to ensure supplies of building materials to the local market. Currently, we are looking for new sources of Gabbro to be imported to Qatar. 19. Identifying the demand of Gabbro in the local market, the Commercial Secretary sought and got arranged a meeting with QPMC’s CEO, Engineer Eisa Al Hammadi on 15th August, 2017. Mr. Al Hammadi acknowledged that in Qatar Gabbro was widely used in the construction and building sector and previously the same was being sourced from Fujaira, UAE. He informed that as an alternative, QPMC had started to import Gabbro from Oman but would be willing to consider Pakistan if its potential sources are identified.

C.Meeting with Schenker DB

20. Schenker DB is a logistics solution provider with deep roots in Pakistan. In order to iron out any logistics problems for the Pakistani exporters, a meeting was held with the Managing Director of Schenker DB, Mr. Henning Zimmermann on 20th August, 2017. It was shared with Mr. Zimmermann that Mwani Qatari had arranged a shipping line for Pakistan. Mr. Zimmermann expressed his delight at the news and promised to get in touch with his Pakistan office for wide dissemination of this news amongst the Pakistani exporters. He also informed that a company like Schenker could effectively facilitate Pakistani exporters in transporting their goods from Pakistan to Qatar.

D.Meeting with Milaha

21. At the initiative of Ambassador of Pakistan HE Shahzad Ahmad, a meeting was held in the head office of Milaha on 22nd

August, 2017 which was attended by Mr. Abdulrahman Essa Al-Mannai, President & CEO Milaha, H.E, the Ambassador of Pakistan, Mr. Shahzad Ahmad, Comdr. Irfan Taj, Defence Attaché, Embassy of Pakistan, Doha and Mr. Salman Ali, Commercial Secretary, Embassy of Pakistan, Doha. During the meeting, Ambassador of Pakistan requested the CEO of Milaha to consider commencement of a shipping service for Pakistan. Mr. Al-Mannai informed the Ambassador of Pakistan that Milaha was already considering the launch of its shipping line from the Karachi Port to Hamad Port. Ambassador of Pakistan assured him of complete cooperation and

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assistance of the Embassy of Pakistan in resolution of any issues with the Port Authorities of Pakistan. Mr. Al-Mannai informed that Milaha was intending to operate an express service from Port Qasim, Karachi to Hamad Port with a transit shipping period of merely 3-4 days. Subsequent to the fruitful visit, Milaha on 27th

August, 2017 announced Milaha has announced the launch of a direct service between Pakistan and Qatar. The new service, called PQX (Pakistan Qatar Express Service), will operate weekly between the Port of Karachi, Pakistan and Hamad Port, Qatar with a competitive transit time of 4 days, making it the fastest direct connection between the two countries. The PQX will also establish a 2nd weekly service to and from Mundra, India, which will add to Milaha’s existing Mundra call as part of the IQX (India Qatar Express Service). PQX will be operated with two 1,700 TEU vessels and a weekly call in all ports following a Mesaieed – Mundra – Karachi – Hamad – Mesaieed rotation. The first vessel will depart from Karachi Port on 7 September and arrive at Hamad Port on 11 September. According to Milaha, PQX service will cater mainly to perishable products and other food stuff, and will increase options for customers in Pakistan and India to access Qatar and other Arabian Gulf markets. This is part of Milaha’s ongoing commitment to support the growing trade between Qatar and its partners by delivering tailor-made, cost-efficient supply chain solutions.

3. Investment Promotion Activities

See Section 2 above

4. Trade Diplomacy

See Section 2 above

5. Market Information and Intelligence

The information regarding the requirement for Gabbro was shared with the FPCCI and Pak-Qatar Business Council and they were requested to immediately arrange potential suppliers of Gabbro to Qatar.

President FPCCI, the Director International Affairs, FPCCI and the Ministry of Commerce were requested to share sector-wise lists of exporters from Pakistan. Such lists are often demanded by local importers so that they have a choice in deciding upon a supplier. It was informed that no such lists are maintained in the Ministry of Commerce. President FPCCI promised to provide the lists but despite reminders, the information has not been received.

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6. Business Networking

See Section 2 above.

7. Field Visits

Several field visits have been made to local supermakets like Carrefour, Al-Meera, Lulu Supermarkets for evaluating the supply and gathering of information regarding the sources of various food items in which Pakistan could offer good competition.

8. Other Activities NIL

9. Follow up activities from previous months

Not applicable

10. Support requested from Pakistan

Date Action required

Organiztion

Deadline (if any)

29.08.2017

Sector-wise contact details of exporters

FPCCI As soon as possible

11. Pending trade and administrative issues related to support from Pakistan

Reporting month

Action required

Organization Status

June, 2017 Request for enhancement of salary of TDO

Ministry of Commerce

Under process

September, 2017

Reference for creation of posts

Ministry of Commerce

Under process

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August, 2017 Approval of additional 15 days daily allowance in lieu of foreign allowance and house rent

Ministry of Commerce

Reply awaited

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