Economic Strength Vital For Strategic Autonomy: PFC CEO
Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mian Kashif Ashfaq on Sunday called for greater economic cooperation with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, stating that increased trade, investment, and industrial collaboration are essential for strengthening Pakistan’s strategic position in the region.
Chairing a meeting of the PFC board of Directors, he emphasized the need to pursue economic diplomacy alongside defence and diplomatic cooperation to foster stronger and more sustainable regional partnerships. He advocated for:
- Expanding bilateral trade
- Attracting investment
- Promoting joint ventures
- Enhancing industrial cooperation
- Developing connectivity projects with partner countries
Mian Kashif argued that the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape necessitates greater coordination among Muslim countries to safeguard their shared economic and security interests. He suggested that the emerging cooperation between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye could contribute to regional stability while the Makkah Defence Pact offers a framework for security cooperation, intelligence sharing, counterterrorism efforts, and strategic coordination.
He stressed that Pakistan should adopt a comprehensive regional approach combining economic diplomacy, trade, investment, defence, and political engagement to play a more active role in the evolving geopolitical order of West and South Asia.