KARACHI : In a significant move to deepen economic integration, the Dubai International Chamber of Commerce has officially established a representative office in Karachi. The opening marks a strategic effort to strengthen trade and investment flows between Pakistan and Dubai, leveraging Karachi’s status as Pakistan’s commercial heart.
This expansion is a key part of the chamber’s broader “Dubai Global” initiative, which aims to establish 50 international offices by 2030 to enhance cross-border business and solidify Dubai’s role as a global trade gateway.
The launch comes amid rapidly growing economic links. Chamber sources report an extraordinary 161% increase in registrations of Pakistani companies with the Dubai Chamber over the past four years. Currently, over 33,110 Pakistani companies are registered in Dubai, reflecting strong business confidence.
Bilateral trade figures underscore this momentum, with non-oil trade between Dubai and Pakistan now standing at approximately Rs 173 billion. The new office is poised to build on this foundation by providing direct, on-ground support to Pakistani entrepreneurs and businesses seeking access to Dubai’s market. Services will include facilitating connections with Emirati partners, navigating regulatory frameworks, and identifying investment opportunities.
Officials state that the Karachi office will serve as a crucial conduit, offering convenience and localized assistance to Pakistani businesspeople aiming to expand into Dubai and wider global markets through the emirate. This development is widely seen as a tangible commitment to fostering mutual prosperity and strengthening the long-standing economic partnership between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance has strongly demanded a reduction in taxes on smartphones, arguing they are now an essential utility, not a luxury.
The committee, chaired by Syed Naveed Qamar, met to discuss tax dispute resolution methods. Chairman Qamar criticized the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for imposing “exorbitant” taxes on mobile phones, which he stated were second only to vehicles. He emphasized the urgent need to lower these taxes, declaring, “smartphones are no longer a luxury item but a necessity.”
Qamar also challenged the government’s frequent use of International Monetary Fund (IMF) program constraints as a justification for high taxation. “This stance cannot be valid anymore that they are in an IMF program,” he asserted.
