audi fast-food giant Albaik is preparing to enter the Pakistani market, with plans to open outlets in major cities, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan announced during his visit to Jeddah on Saturday.
During the visit, the minister toured Albaik’s production facilities and met with Pakistani employees working there. Albaik confirmed that its expansion into Pakistan is in the final stages, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU).
The discussions took place during the first-ever Made in Pakistan exhibition, focusing on business collaborations, investment opportunities, and the entry of Saudi brands into the Pakistani market, according to a press release issued on Saturday.
In a key meeting with prominent Saudi businessmen, the minister invited them to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan across various sectors, including energy, agriculture, IT, healthcare, infrastructure, and consumer goods. He highlighted a 22% increase in Pakistan’s exports to Saudi Arabia, which have reached $700 million, and assured investors of a business-friendly environment with tax exemptions, investor protection laws, and access to a consumer market of 240 million people.
Saudi business leaders expressed strong interest in collaborating with Pakistani counterparts, particularly in construction materials, textiles, and the food industry. Several proposals were discussed to enhance trade partnerships and industrial investment. The minister also extended an invitation to Saudi investors to visit Pakistan and participate in trade exhibitions such as TEXPO, Food-AG, and the Healthcare & Mineral Show.
The discussions also covered Pakistan’s recent ease-of-doing-business initiatives, including the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) and the National Compliance Centre, which aim to streamline trade regulations and improve export standards.
A key moment of the visit was the minister’s meeting with Albaik owner Rami Abu Ghazala. He was given an in-depth tour of Albaik’s operations, where he interacted with Pakistani employees working at the fast-food chain. Albaik reiterated its commitment to launching in Pakistan, with the first branches expected to open soon, creating job opportunities and strengthening economic ties between the two nations.
The minister praised the contributions of Pakistani workers in Saudi businesses like Albaik and welcomed the brand’s entry into Pakistan, emphasizing its potential to boost the country’s fast-food industry and consumer market.
In another significant meeting, the minister engaged with Pakistani investors and business leaders based in Jeddah, acknowledging their long-standing contributions to Saudi Arabia’s economy. He noted that 1.7 million Pakistanis have traveled to Saudi Arabia over the past five years, making it the top destination for Pakistani emigrants.
Additionally, he highlighted the $7.4 billion in remittances sent from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan last fiscal year, reinforcing the strong financial ties between the two countries. The Pakistan Investor Forum, recently established in Jeddah, is playing a key role in guiding new market entrants and fostering business collaborations between the two nations.
The minister also encouraged Pakistani investors to take advantage of the country’s Revised Visa Policy, which allows GCC citizens to visit Pakistan visa-free for up to 90 days, facilitating easier business travel.
His engagements in Jeddah reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening trade relations with Saudi Arabia. From Saudi business leaders showing confidence in Pakistan’s economy to Albaik’s imminent expansion, the visit marked a major step toward deepening economic and trade ties between the two nations.
With growing Saudi interest in Pakistani industries, rising trade volumes, and increasing business partnerships, the Pakistan-Saudi economic corridor is set to expand further, unlocking new opportunities for both countries.
