KARACHI, Pakistan – February 11, 2026 – Mian Zahid Hussain, President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum & All Karachi Industrial Alliance, Chairman National Business Group Pakistan, Chairman Policy Advisory Board FPCCI, and Former Provincial Minister Information Technology, today welcomed the “historic renaissance” in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations, citing new data that confirms a robust economic turnaround between the two nations.
Mian Zahid Hussain, stated that the thawing of frozen ties has yielded immediate economic dividends. He noted that bilateral trade volume surged by 20% in Fiscal Year 2025, reaching $866 million, up from $717 million the previous year.
“The restoration of brotherly ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh is not just a diplomatic success; it is a commercial imperative for South Asia,” Mian Zahid Hussain said. “With Pakistan’s exports to Bangladesh rising by approximately 19% to $787 million and imports growing by 42% to $78 million, we are witnessing the natural realignment of two economies that share deep complementarities in textiles, agriculture, and industrial raw materials.”
Mian Zahid Hussain highlighted the operational success of the direct shipping route between Karachi and Chittagong, established in late 2024, as a game-changer for the business community.
“The launch of direct shipping has revolutionized our logistics, slashing transit time from a cumbersome 23 days via third-party ports to just 10 to 11 days,” he observed. “Coupled with the Bangladesh government’s pragmatic decision in September 2024 to abolish the mandatory 100% physical inspection of Pakistani goods, we have seen a reduction in demurrage costs and a significant boost in investor confidence on both sides.”
The veteran business leader also commended the renewal of political and sporting ties, pointing to the 6th Round of Bilateral Consultations held in Dhaka in April 2025—the first such high-level dialogue in 15 years—as a critical milestone. He further applauded the “Cricket Diplomacy” witnessed recently, where both nations displayed solidarity at the International Cricket Council (ICC), protecting mutual interests regarding the T20 World Cup and ensuring fair treatment for South Asian cricketing giants.
“The solidarity shown in the sporting arena and the diplomatic corridors proves that the ice has not just melted; it has evaporated,” Mian Zahid Hussain added.
Looking forward, Mian Zahid Hussain urged both governments to capitalize on this momentum by finalizing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and moving beyond the current framework to lock in tariff preferences, Easing Visa Regimes by facilitating business travel to sustain the current trade trajectory and Setting a $2 Billion Trade Target, aiming to double the current trade volume by FY2028. “The private sectors of Karachi and Chittagong are ready to lead this charge. We must ensure that bureaucratic red tape does not hinder the path to our shared prosperity,” he concluded.
