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ISLAMABAD: The Abu Dhabi (AD) Ports Group, a leading Emirati maritime and logistics provider, on Tuesday announced the opening of its first representative office in Pakistan’s capital of Islamabad, aiming to facilitate partnerships in maritime, logistics and other key domains.

The announcement comes months after AD Ports signed four memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Pakistan in November last year to explore opportunities to upgrade the country’s maritime, rail, airport, customs and logistics infrastructure.

The move coincides with Pakistan’s efforts to attract international investment, particularly from Gulf countries, with a focus on strategic sectors such as ports and shipping, aviation and logistics to drive sustainable economic growth.

“The new office will serve as a critical platform for deepening engagement with government stakeholders and advancing priority infrastructure and trade initiatives,” the AD Ports Group said in a statement.

“As a client-facing and administrative hub, the Islamabad office will also support ongoing operations and facilitate strategic partnerships in the ports, maritime, logistics, and industrial development sectors.”

The development reflects the depth of the bilateral relationship and shared vision for long-term economic cooperation between the two countries, according to the Emirati port operator.

It follows a series of high-impact investments by AD Ports Group in Pakistan, including $295 million committed toward the development and enhancement of container, bulk, and general cargo terminals at Karachi Port’s East Wharf, which are central to the Group’s strategy to support the transformation of Pakistan into a regional trade and logistics hub.

On the occasion, AD Ports CEO Capt. Mohamed Juma Al-Shamisi said the opening of the Islamabad office marks a significant milestone in the Group’s global expansion strategy.

“This move will enable closer collaboration with government entities and strategic partners, positioning AD Ports Group as a key contributor to Pakistan’s economic transformation,” he said.

“Our growing footprint, underpinned by significant investments in critical port infrastructure, aligns with our wise leadership vision for trade facilitation, industrial diversification and sustainable development.”

The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States, and the second biggest source of foreign remittances to Pakistan after ������Ƶ.

Pakistan holds a strategic geographic position as a maritime gateway to Central Asia, making it a crucial element in AD Ports Group’s vision to establish an integrated trade corridor stretching from China to Europe, according to maritime and logistics provider.

AD Ports Group entered Pakistan in 2022 with a landmark 50-year concession to develop and operate container berths 6–10 at Karachi Port’s East Wharf in partnership with Kaheel Terminals. This was followed by a second 50-year agreement in 2023 to manage berths 11–17 for general and bulk cargo.

In July 2024, the group also signed an agreement to invest $250 million over the next decade in Pakistan with plans to develop a state-of-the-art port facility in the coastal city of Karachi.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has lowered the threshold for defining microenterprises to include companies with annual revenues of up to Rs30 million ($106,000) under the national Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) development framework, and has finalized a draft Women’s Entrepreneurship Policy, the Prime Minister’s Office said on Tuesday.

The measures are part of a broader push by the government to revive the economy by expanding private-sector innovation and participation following years of economic distress. Pakistan’s financial outlook began improving after securing several International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans and introducing structural reforms that stabilized macroeconomic indicators.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a review meeting of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority's (SMEDA) steering committee to evaluate the performance of the SME sector. Officials briefed him on reforms aimed at enhancing the authority’s institutional capacity and outreach.

“Companies with annual business up to Rs30 million have been classified as microenterprises and brought under SMEDA’s scope on the instructions of the Prime Minister,” the statement said. “The draft of the Women Entrepreneurship Policy has also been prepared and will soon be submitted to the federal cabinet for approval.”

Other initiatives discussed during the meeting included the upcoming launch of a digital portal for women entrepreneurs and outsourcing of work related to SMEDA’s credit scoring model, SME subcontracting legal framework and export enhancement strategy.

SMEDA is also conducting a survey of 20 economic sectors in collaboration with the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the statement said.

"Small and medium-sized enterprises hold a vital place in the country’s development and economy," the prime minister said while addressing the gathering.

"The government is working on a priority basis to promote small and medium-sized businesses," he added.