**Bilal Khan Kakar, Vice Chairman of Balochistan Board of Investment and Trade, Visits FPCCI to Discuss Provincial Investment Prospects**
Bilal Khan Kakar, Vice Chairman of the Balochistan Board of Investment and Trade (BBoIT), visited the office of the President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), fostering dialogue with FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh and key members of the business community. The meeting focused on exploring investment opportunities in Balochistan, addressing economic challenges, and strengthening institutional cooperation between the two organizations.
During the meeting, FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh lauded the vital role played by Bilal Khan Kakar and the BBoIT in promoting investment and driving economic growth in Balochistan. Sheikh highlighted that under Kakar’s leadership, both domestic and foreign investments in the province have risen, attributing this progress to effective measures for streamlining business regulations and enhancing ease of doing business. He emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts among all institutions to achieve sustainable economic development in Pakistan.
Sheikh pointed to Balochistan’s wealth of natural resources, noting that the province has long remained on the periphery of mainstream economic activity. However, he recognized recent initiatives that are reintegrating Balochistan into the national economic fold, with the establishment of industrial zones and major investment projects demonstrating the region’s transition into an emerging economic hub.
Addressing broader national challenges, the FPCCI President stressed that provincial collaboration is key to ensuring economic stability for Pakistan. He called for joint planning and collective action on economic projects, adding that the FPCCI is ready to work alongside BBoIT to attract investment and organize expositions, with the goal of strengthening institutional cooperation between the two entities.
In his address, Bilal Khan Kakar, Vice Chairman of BBoIT, underlined the vast investment potential within Balochistan, stating that the province’s wealth of resources can benefit not only the province itself but also the entire country. Kakar detailed opportunities in key sectors such as food processing, mining, tourism, and more, revealing that local Pakistani investors have already committed investments totaling five billion.
To enhance cooperation, Kakar announced that a joint working group between FPCCI and BBoIT would be established within a week, aimed at facilitating joint initiatives and further investment. He drew attention to the significant untapped mineral wealth in the province, sharing that only five percent of Balochistan’s minerals—such as those at Reko Diq—have been exploited so far, while the remaining 95 percent await investment.
Kakar questioned why international investors, such as those from the United Kingdom, are active in the province’s mining sector, while greater participation from Pakistani investors is still needed. He added that large-scale investments from the UAE, China, and other countries are already flowing into Balochistan, reflecting growing confidence in the province’s potential.
Kakar also noted that the province now hosts two Special Economic Zones and two Export Processing Zones, further positioning Balochistan as a key destination for both local and foreign investors.
Both sides expressed hope that this meeting would mark the beginning of deeper institutional collaboration, unlocking new opportunities for economic growth and investment in Balochistan.
