Pakistan sees modest rise in non-textile exports — state media

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday welcomed recent talks between Iran and the United States in Muscat, the capital of Oman, urging both sides to resolve longstanding differences through dialogue and diplomacy.
The indirect discussions, held on April 12 under Omani mediation, marked the first engagement between the two countries since 2017 and focused on reducing tensions over Iran’s nuclear program, among other issues.
Both sides described the talks as constructive and agreed to continue the dialogue.
“Pakistan welcomes the talks between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America that were held on 12 April 2025 in Muscat under the good offices of Oman,” the foreign office said in a statement.
“Pakistan considers that dialogue and diplomacy will promote peace and stability in the region and advance the objective of resolution of differences and disputes on the basis of negotiations and mutual respect,” it added. “We encourage the parties to continue to follow this path.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff led their respective delegations. While the talks were primarily indirect, reports indicated that the two officials briefly spoke face-to-face, signaling a possible thaw in relations.
Iran has insisted its missile defense program remains non-negotiable, while the US has maintained its “maximum pressure” campaign, demanding that Iran not weaponize its nuclear capability.
Relations between the US and Iran have been fraught since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and the two nations have had no formal diplomatic ties since 1980.
Tensions escalated after the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018. The recent talks in Muscat have come against the backdrop of Israel’s military engagements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, as well as Syria and Lebanon.
Last year, Iran and Israel also launched missile and drone strikes, marking their first direct military confrontation.

ISLAMABAD: Overseas Pakistani businessmen in Saudi Arabia expressed interest in investing in the tourism, agriculture, food processing and trading sectors of their country of origin on Sunday, as they arrived in Islamabad to attend the inaugural Overseas Pakistanis Convention.
Nearly 20 Pakistan-origin businessmen from the Kingdom are participating in the program that kicked off today and will conclude on April 15.
Organized by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, the convention aims to recognize the contributions of expatriates to the national economy and address their concerns.
The government has accorded state guest status to all the attendees, with special arrangements made to welcome them at airports.
“We have keen interest in investing in Pakistan’s tourism infrastructure, including hotel development and facility upgrades, as well as in value-added agriculture, food processing and general trading sectors such as import-export,” Faisal Tahir Khan, a Saudi-born Pakistani businessman whose family has lived in the Kingdom for the past seven decades, told Arab News.
“At the moment our main platform, the Pakistan Investment Forum [PIF] in Saudi Arabia, is also working to build a Pakistan commercial hub in the Kingdom where we will be bringing the top 100 brands of Pakistan there,” he added.
Remittances sent by overseas Pakistanis are crucial for the country as the nation navigates a tricky path to recovery from a prolonged economic crisis that drained its revenues in recent years.
Pakistan expects to receive more than $35 billion in remittances until the end of this fiscal year in June, with its nationals in Saudi Arabia being top contributors to the country’s economy.
Khan maintained the Kingdom offered a robust investment ecosystem, driven by its Vision 2030 initiative to reduce its oil reliance and transform economy, saying the authorities in Riyadh are promoting equal opportunities for all investors.
Ali Khurshid Malik, another businessman from the Pakistani diaspora in Saudi Arabia, emphasized local companies should not miss the opportunities emerging in the construction sector in the Kingdom with the launch of projects like NEOM City.
NEOM City is a flagship project under Vision 2030, aimed at building a futuristic, sustainable urban hub driven by innovation and technology.
“The NEOM project offers a major opportunity for Pakistani investors in both construction, where Pakistan excels in materials and labor, and in smart city technologies, where its IT sector can play a key role,” he told Arab News.
Malik, who also serves as the finance secretary with PIF, said overseas Pakistanis with businesses in Saudi Arabia could help connect relevant companies in Pakistan, such as those providing construction materials like sanitary supplies, ceramics and marble with Saudi firms.
“There is also a demand for skilled workers, particularly in areas like smart electronics for smart homes,” he noted.
He also pointed out Pakistan needed to improve its certification systems to provide the Kingdom with certified skilled workers, including specialists in electronic modules, electronic systems, as well as electronic and software engineers.
Raja Shahid Raza, a Riyadh-based Pakistani entrepreneur, said the convention would provide a valuable opportunity for overseas Pakistani investors, businessmen and community members to engage directly with government institutions, while also boosting their pride as their contributions are being recognized by the country.
“As the top management of all key institutions that overseas Pakistanis interact with will be present, it will be a great opportunity to voice our concerns and receive direct responses from them,” he said, adding it would also connect different local businesses with the overseas community.
In a statement, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain said the convention aimed to address expatriates’ issues and recognize their contributions.
He informed the country’s top leadership, including the prime minister and the army chief, will also address the visiting business representatives.