Pakistani home appliances giant targets $100 million exports in 2 years by tapping US market

Pakistani home appliances giant targets $100 million exports in 2 years by tapping US market
The undated file photo shows the building of Pakistani home appliances company, Pak Elektron Limited (PEL). (Photo courtesy: PEL/ website)
Short Url
Updated 19 March 2025
Follow

Pakistani home appliances giant targets $100 million exports in 2 years by tapping US market

Pakistani home appliances giant targets $100 million exports in 2 years by tapping US market
  • Pak Elektron Limited announced this week it is expanding export operations to US
  • PEL says company eyeing expanding its footprint to Saudi Arabia after tapping US market

KARACHI: Pakistani home appliances giant Pak Elektron Limited (PEL) plans to increase its exports to $100 million by the end of 2026, a senior official of the company said on Wednesday, days after announcing it had begun its export operations to the United States. 

The Lahore-based manufacturer of home appliances has been one of the most-traded scrips at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) so far this week. It had the second-most traded stock on Wednesday, registering a 3.2 percent gain and over 36 million volumes.

On Monday the company announced it has expanded its global footprint and will be now exporting its products to the US. PEL’s new American client is Maddox Industrial Transformer LLC, which supplies new and remanufactured power transformers to commercial and industrial clients in the US.

“We are exporting distribution transformers for now and the majority of our exports, say 90 percent, are going to the US,” Nadeem Asghar, the general manager of finance at PEL, told Arab News. 

PEL plans to increase its exports up to $50 million this year by December and double the same to $100 million by the end of 2026, Asghar said. 

The company’s current exports stand at $3 million, with most of its shipments going to the United Kingdom, Jordan and African countries. 

PEL’s stock price appears to have increased steadily in recent days. Its recent announcement of beginning export operations to the US has contributed to a notable increase in its stock price, Sana Tawfik, the head of research at the Karachi-based brokerage firm Arif Habib Ltd., said.

“The stock price has witnessed a gain of 13 percent in the last three days,” Tawfik told Arab News.

The company has already sent its first consignment of distribution transformers to the US on Mar. 13 as part of its business expansion strategy to explore new international markets.

Asghar, meanwhile, said this is the first time that PEL has received a “major order” from the US.

“The majority of our products will be exported to America now,” he said, adding that PEL would keep increasing its exports even beyond $100 million after 2026 as “sky is the limit.”

PEL entered into a strategic partnership last month with Swedish giant Electrolux AB, a global leader in multi-category home appliances brands such as Electrolux, AEG and Frigidaire, to leverage its strength to drive sustainable growth.

In 2024 Electrolux Group had sales of Swedish Krona 136 billion and the company employed 41,000 people worldwide. 

After tapping the US market, Asghar said the Pakistani company plans to expand its reach to the Middle East as well, particularly Saudi Arabia. 

“We would look to tap the Saudi Arabian market where we see enough demand for our products,” Asghar said, adding that talks with the company’s potential clients from Saudi Arabia were underway. He did not mention their names. 

“We will tap all these markets, the UK, Saudi Arabia and others. Our negotiations are ongoing with the Saudi Arabian clients,” Asghar added. 

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has repeatedly said his government is prioritizing exports to ensure sustainable economic growth for the country’s fragile $350 billion economy. Sharif has recently said his government aims to increase Pakistan’s exports to $60 billion in five years. 

Pakistan is trying to stabilize its economy through sustainable reforms agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in exchange for a financial bailout program. 


Pakistan offers assistance to Myanmar, Thailand as quake death toll passes 1,000

Pakistan offers assistance to Myanmar, Thailand as quake death toll passes 1,000
Updated 12 sec ago
Follow

Pakistan offers assistance to Myanmar, Thailand as quake death toll passes 1,000

Pakistan offers assistance to Myanmar, Thailand as quake death toll passes 1,000
  • The earthquake quake flattened buildings, downed bridges, and cracked roads across swathes of Myanmar, demolished a 30-story skyscraper in Bangkok
  • Aid agencies say Myanmar is totally unprepared to deal with a disaster of this magnitude, where a civil war has already displaced some 3.5 million people

KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday offered Pakistan’s assistance to Myanmar and Thailand following a deadly earthquake that has claimed more than 1,000 lives, with many still feared to be trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings.
The shallow 7.7-magnitude tremor hit northwest of the city of Sagaing in central Myanmar on Friday afternoon and was followed minutes later by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock.
It flattened buildings, downed bridges, and cracked roads across swathes of Myanmar, and even demolished a 30-story skyscraper under construction hundreds of kilometers away in Bangkok.
Sharif said he was saddened by the devastating earthquake and his thoughts and prayers were with the people of the two Southeast Asian nations in this difficult time.
“Pakistan stands in solidarity with Thailand and Myanmar, offers our support and wishes them strength, safety, and a swift recovery from this catastrophe,” he said on X.
At least 1,002 people were killed and nearly 2,400 injured in Myanmar, the ruling junta said in a statement. Around 10 more deaths have been confirmed in Bangkok.
But with communications badly disrupted, the true scale of the disaster is only starting to emerge from the isolated military-ruled state, and the toll is expected to rise significantly.
It was the biggest quake to hit Myanmar in decades and junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, issued an exceptionally rare appeal for international aid on Friday, indicating the severity of the calamity.
Offers of foreign assistance began coming in, with President Donald Trump on Friday pledging US help.
“It’s a real bad one, and we will be helping. We’ve already spoken with the country,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
An initial flight from India carrying hygiene kits, blankets, food parcels and other essentials landed in the commercial capital Yangon on Saturday.
China said it sent an 82-person team of rescuers to Myanmar.
Aid agencies have warned that Myanmar is totally unprepared to deal with a disaster of this magnitude. Some 3.5 million people were displaced by the raging civil war, many at risk of hunger, even before the quake struck.


Pakistan slashes petrol price by Rs1 for next fortnight

Pakistan slashes petrol price by Rs1 for next fortnight
Updated 32 min 33 sec ago
Follow

Pakistan slashes petrol price by Rs1 for next fortnight

Pakistan slashes petrol price by Rs1 for next fortnight
  • Petrol is mostly used in the South Asian country for private transport, small vehicles, rickshaws and two-wheelers
  • The fortnightly adjustment of fuel prices ensures the net impact of changes in import costs is passed on to consumers

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government has reduced the price of petrol by Rs1 per liter for the next fortnight, the Finance Division announced late Friday.
After the latest revision, a liter of petrol will now cost Rs254.63, while the price of high-speed diesel remains unchanged at Rs258.64, according to a Finance Division notification.
“The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority has worked out the consumer prices of petroleum products based on the price variations in the international market,” the notification read.
Fuel prices in Pakistan are reviewed and adjusted fortnightly. The mechanism ensures that the net impact of changes in import costs is passed on to consumers, helping sustain the country’s fuel supply chain.
Petrol is mostly used in Pakistan for private transport, small vehicles, rickshaws, and two-wheelers. At the same time, diesel powers heavy vehicles used for transportation of good across the South Asian country.


On Ramadan nights, Islamabad residents are all cued up and ready to win

On Ramadan nights, Islamabad residents are all cued up and ready to win
Updated 21 min 55 sec ago
Follow

On Ramadan nights, Islamabad residents are all cued up and ready to win

On Ramadan nights, Islamabad residents are all cued up and ready to win
  • Snooker tournaments at clubs often increase during holy month, providing social and recreational outlet after breaking the fast
  • Pakistan has strong tradition in snooker, with players like Muhammad Asif achieving significant success on the international stage

Usman Sartaj reached for the small, cube-shaped chalk on the edge of the snooker table and rotated it over the cue tip in a smooth, circular motion. 

He then struck the cue ball hard, sending it crashing into the others, dispersing them from their triangular formation to all parts of the table. 

During Ramadan, snooker games and tournaments at cue-ball clubs often increase, providing a social and recreational outlet for people after breaking their fast. Things are no different in Islamabad where many youngsters like 25-year-old Sartaj, who runs a business of importing and exporting cars, frequent snooker clubs and play until the pre-dawn suhoor meal. 

“There is a lot of buzz in snooker clubs during Ramadan, tournaments are held and various players come from different places,” Sartaj told Arab News at the “Snooker 13” club in Islamabad’s G-13 area where he had come to play after offering the voluntary Tarawih night prayers earlier this week.

Local players stand around a snooker table at “Snooker 13” club in Islamabad, Pakistan, on March 27, 2025. (AN Photo)

Why does he prefer snooker over other games?

“Snooker is a great game, it eliminates a person’s tension and stress,” Sartaj said.

Abdul Hadi, the supervisor at Snooker 13, said around 500 people visited the club daily, a number that surged to around 1,500-1,600 in Ramadan during the hours between the iftar and suhoor meals.

One reason for its popularity was affordability, Hadi said. 

“It’s around Rs150-200 [$0.54-0.71] for a normal frame,” he told Arab News. “It’s a regular rate, not too cheap and not too expensive. So everyone can afford it, even the students and people under 18 years.”

A local player plays a shot during a snooker match at “Snooker 13” club in Islamabad, Pakistan, on March 27, 2025. (AN Photo)

Muhammad Shahbaz, a 27-year-old driver who works in Dubai but was in Pakistan to spend Ramadan and Eid with his family, was a fan of famed British snooker player Ronnie O’Sullivan, and said he hoped to emulate his favorite athlete’s performances during Ramada games.

“We admire Ronnie’s game and love to watch and follow him,” Shahbaz said. “We try to follow his tricks and his shots.”

Pakistan has a strong tradition in snooker, with players like Muhammad Asif achieving significant success on the international stage, including multiple IBSF World Snooker Championship titles.

“There is a lot of snooker talent in Pakistan and if we want to promote it [further], the government has to support it,” Shahbaz said.

Shavez Ahmed, a 30-year-old realtor who was enjoying a game at one of the nine tables at the club, said there was no doubt snooker was one of the most popular games in Ramadan. 

“Other games are impressive too, we play cricket and badminton as well,” he said. “But the craze for snooker in Ramadan never ends.”


Chapman ton lifts New Zealand to 344-9 in first Pakistan ODI

Chapman ton lifts New Zealand to 344-9 in first Pakistan ODI
Updated 56 min 37 sec ago
Follow

Chapman ton lifts New Zealand to 344-9 in first Pakistan ODI

Chapman ton lifts New Zealand to 344-9 in first Pakistan ODI
  • New Zealand had slumped to 50-3 in the 13th over, having been asked to bat
  • But Chapman’s career-best 132 formed the foundation of imposing team score

NAPIER: Mark Chapman struck a sublime century and Muhammad Abbas provided record-breaking late fireworks as New Zealand posted 344-9 on Saturday in the first one-day international against Pakistan in Napier.
Chapman’s career-best 132 formed the foundation of the imposing team score at McLean Park, after New Zealand had slumped to 50-3 in the 13th over, having been asked to bat.
Pakistan-born allrounder Abbas ignited the end of the innings with his 52, setting a world record for the fastest half-century on debut when he reached 50 off the 24th ball he faced.
Pakistan’s seam-heavy attack capitalized on lively bounce and movement early on, but their hold on the game slipped when Chapman was joined by Daryl Mitchell (76 off 84 balls), with the pair putting on 199 for the fourth wicket.
Left-hander Chapman was the more aggressive of the pair, facing just 111 balls and striking 13 fours and six sixes.
The 30-year-old was fortunate to survive a dropped catch in the slips by Salman Agha when on just five.
Mitchell’s dismissal in the 42nd over sparked a mini-collapse before 21-year-old Abbas launched his spectacular innings, featuring three fours and three sixes.
All four specialist Pakistan seamers were effective early on but were punished late.
Left-arm quick Akif Javed claimed 2-55 on his international debut, but the best figures were recorded by part-time seamer Irfan Khan, who took 3-51 off five expensive overs at the death.
Both teams feature numerous changes to those who played out a five-match T20 series, won 4-1 by New Zealand.
The tourists have welcomed back captain Mohammad Rizwan and batsman Babar Azam after the key veterans were omitted for the T20 series.
Along with Javed’s debut, opening batsman Usman Khan and seamer Mohammed Ali are both playing their first ODI for Pakistan.
New Zealand handed international debuts to Abbas and opening batsman Nick Kelly, who scored 15.


Danish firm to train 100 Pakistani engineers in mining as Islamabad seeks to exploit mineral resources

Danish firm to train 100 Pakistani engineers in mining as Islamabad seeks to exploit mineral resources
Updated 29 March 2025
Follow

Danish firm to train 100 Pakistani engineers in mining as Islamabad seeks to exploit mineral resources

Danish firm to train 100 Pakistani engineers in mining as Islamabad seeks to exploit mineral resources
  • Pakistan’s landscape is a treasure trove of diverse mineral deposits from huge coal reserves to gold and copper deposits to gemstone
  • The South Asian country is currently making efforts to utilize these vast mineral resources to stabilize its $350 billion fragile economy

ISLAMABAD: A Copenhagen-based multinational mining company, FLSmidth, will train 100 Pakistani engineers in mining, the Pakistani government said on Friday, amid Islamabad’s efforts to utilize the country’s vast mineral resources for economic gains.
The statement by Pakistan’s Press Information Department (PID) came after Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik’s meeting with Danish Ambassador to Pakistan Jakob Linulf in Islamabad that focused on bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, particularly in mining and technological collaboration.
Malik recognized that FLSmidth’s advanced solutions in cement production, mineral processing and decarbonization align with Pakistan’s goals of increasing efficiency and reducing environmental impact in its extractive industries, according to the PID.
He emphasized the Pakistani government’s commitment to creating an investor-friendly environment and invited Danish companies, including FLSmidth, to explore partnerships with Pakistani firms during the Pakistani Minerals Investment Forum on April 8-9.
“FLSmidth will be launching a training program named BRIMM (Bradshaw Research Initiative for Minerals and Mining) under which hundred Pakistani engineers will be provided training,” the PID said, citing the Danish ambassador.
“FLSmidth has already entered into 5 partnership agreements in minerals sector of Pakistan.”
Pakistan’s landscape is a treasure trove of diverse mineral deposits from huge coal reserves in the southern Sindh province to gold and copper deposits in the southwestern Balochistan province. The northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is home to several gemstone mines, including emerald mines in Swat, Mardan’s pink topaz mines, and peridot mines in Kohistan.
The South Asian country is currently making efforts to utilize these vast mineral resources through foreign investment and collaboration to stabilize its $350 billion economy.
Petroleum Minister Malik expressed Pakistan’s keen interest in leveraging Danish technology and investment to optimize resource extraction and processing as the South Asian country has significant mineral reserves. He extended his full support and offered the government’s good offices to facilitate Danish investment and technology transfer in Pakistan’s growing mining sector, according to the statement.
The ambassador reaffirmed Denmark’s support for Pakistan’s energy transition and industrial growth, and said they were looking forward to Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum.
“He noted that Danish companies are eager to share their expertise in green mining solutions, automation, and digitalization to help Pakistan achieve its economic and environmental objectives,” the PID said.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to facilitate further engagement between Pakistani stakeholders and Danish technology providers, with FLSmidth playing a pivotal role in advancing modern mining practices in Pakistan.