Pakistan targets global halal markets and digital trade expansion

The Pakistani government is implementing strategies to expand its presence in the global halal economy and modernize its trade sector through digital transformation. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met with the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development to discuss a targeted approach for halal exports. Rather than treating the sector as a single market, the government aims to identify specific products and industries—including food, fashion, tourism, and services—where local companies can compete effectively on quality and pricing.

Simultaneously, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan is working with the Pakistan Digital Authority to integrate trade-related data and utilize artificial intelligence. The initiative seeks to centralize information regarding exporters, international markets, and trade officers to better identify new opportunities. Discussions have also focused on developing sovereign cloud infrastructure and domestic data centers to enhance security and support AI needs, while emphasizing the necessity of ethical standards and data privacy in the digital transition.