- Free Trade Agreement reduce tariffs ease trade restrictions create open environment for goods investments
Interview with Mr. Ibad Ali, UAE-based Pakistani
PAGE: Tell me something about yourself, please:
Ibad Ali: I’m currently with Al Foah Dates Factory, UAE, part of the Agthia Group, previously contributing to Grand Mills, another Agthia business unit. I have worked closely with the business on financial planning, operational improvements, and providing timely insights to management. I have extensive experience in FMCG and manufacturing, including the edible oil sector, where I contributed to decision-making, product costing, value chain optimization, and management reporting.
PAGE: What is your perspective about Pakistan & UAE trade?
Ibad Ali: My perspective on Pakistan – UAE trade is highly positive and full of long-term potential. The UAE has always been one of Pakistan’s most important economic partners, not only through trade but also through investment, energy cooperation, and the large Pakistani workforce contributing to the UAE’s economy. In recent years, both countries have shown a clear commitment to expanding this relationship through food security, agriculture, technology, logistics, and renewable energy. The UAE serves as a strategic gateway for Pakistani products to reach global markets, while Pakistan offers a strong base in agriculture, textiles, food processing, and skilled human capital. With ongoing reforms, improved connectivity, and rising interest from UAE investors in Pakistan’s agribusiness and industrial sectors, I believe the trade relationship will continue to grow stronger.
Overall, the Pakistan-UAE partnership is built on trust, shared interests, and decades of cooperation, and its future looks even more promising as both economies diversify and modernize.
PAGE: Pakistan has signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). How could this benefit Pakistan in its trade with the UAE?
Ibad Ali: A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is a formal arrangement between countries to reduce or eliminate tariffs, ease trade restrictions, and create a more open environment for the movement of goods, services, and investments. By signing an FTA with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Pakistan has opened the door to a more competitive and accessible trade relationship with GCC member states, including the UAE.
For Pakistan, this agreement can significantly benefit trade with the UAE in several ways:
- Lower tariffs and easier market access: Reduced import duties will make Pakistani products i.e. Textiles, agricultural goods, and industrial products more competitive in the UAE market.
- Stronger food and agriculture exports: The UAE is a major importer of food and agri-based products. Pakistan, with its strong agricultural base, can supply more items at better prices, strengthening food security ties.
- Increased investment and joint ventures: With a more predictable and stable trade framework, UAE investors may find it easier to invest in Pakistan’s sectors like manufacturing, food processing, logistics, and renewable energy.
- Boost to industrial and value-added exports: The FTA encourages Pakistan to expand beyond raw materials into higher value-added goods, increasing its presence in UAE retail and manufacturing supply chains.
- Enhanced trade logistics and supply chain integration: Reduced trade barriers can lower shipping and customs delays, improving the efficiency of Pakistan–UAE trade flows.
Overall, the FTA provides Pakistan with a clearer, more favorable platform to deepen economic ties with the UAE, expand its export base, and attract long-term investment helping both economies grow through stronger regional cooperation.
PAGE: Pakistan produces over half a million tonnes of dates annually. The United Arab Emirates intends to establish three date processing plants in major date-producing regions such as Sindh and Balochistan? What is your take on it?
Ibad Ali: The UAE’s plan to establish date processing plants in Sindh and Balochistan is a very encouraging development for Pakistan’s date industry. Pakistan already produces over half a million tonnes of dates annually, but much of this potential remains underutilized due to limited processing, grading, and value-addition facilities. By investing in processing plants, the UAE can help Pakistan move from selling mostly raw dates to producing higher-value products such as pitted dates, date paste, date syrup, and consumer-ready packaged dates. This shift can significantly increase export earnings and open access to premium international markets. For farmers, this can create better price stability, reduce post-harvest wastage, and generate new employment opportunities in rural areas. For Pakistan, it strengthens agricultural value chains and aligns well with global trends toward processed and packaged food products.
The UAE has established itself as a key global player in date processing and value-added food industries, and its expertise makes this collaboration highly promising. This initiative is not just an investment; it has the potential to build a long-term partnership that can modernize Pakistan’s date sector, enhance productivity, and significantly boost its competitiveness in international markets.
PAGE: The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner and is home to over a million Pakistanis. What is your standpoint on remittances from the UAE?
Ibad Ali: Remittances from the UAE play a vital role in Pakistan’s economy and social stability. With over a million Pakistanis living and working in the UAE, the country has consistently remained one of Pakistan’s top sources of foreign remittances. These inflows not only support millions of families back home but also strengthen Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves, reduce external financing pressures, and help balance the current account. The UAE provides a strong and stable environment for Pakistani professionals, skilled workers, and entrepreneurs, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to both economies. Continued cooperation in banking channels, digital remittance solutions, and worker welfare programs can further enhance the flow of remittances through formal channels.
Remittances from the UAE provide vital support to Pakistan’s economy and highlight the strong connection between the two nations.