Interview with Mr. Zia ul Mustafa Awan, President House of Professionals and Director Global Markets, ICMP USA
PAGE: Tell me something about yourself, please:
Zia Ul Mustafa Awan: I am a management professional and corporate leader with over 25 years of experience across diverse industries, with a strong focus on organizational development, strategy, operations, project management, financial stewardship, risk management, and corporate governance. My professional journey has allowed me to work extensively at both national and international levels, contributing to institutional strengthening and leadership development. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to serve in senior leadership roles within corporate and regulatory bodies. I have served multiple terms as President of ICMA Pakistan, as President of the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA), and as a Member of the PAIB Advisory Group of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). My corporate experience includes C-level positions at organizations such as Descon Engineering Limited, Pakistan Expo Centres, and Rustam Group of Industries. In addition to my executive roles, I have also had the privilege of serving as a Director on the boards of key national institutions, including Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL), the Ignite National Technology Fund, and the Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance (PICG).
Currently, I serve as President of the House of Professionals, a management consulting and professional training organization, and as Director, Global Markets at the Institute of Chartered Management Professionals (ICMP) USA. In these roles, I remain actively engaged in leadership development, professional certification, and global outreach initiatives. Alongside my executive responsibilities, I continue to work as a corporate trainer, public speaker, and writer, with a strong commitment to ethical leadership, governance, and sustainable organizational growth.
PAGE: What is your perspective about Pakistan and Saudi Arabia trade relations?
Zia Ul Mustafa Awan: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share a longstanding relationship founded on mutual trust, religious affinity and strong people-to-people connections. However, I believe the relationship must now evolve into a more diversified and sustainable economic partnership. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 offers significant opportunities for Pakistani businesses and professionals in construction, information technology, healthcare, education, tourism, agriculture, renewable energy and professional services. Pakistan can support Saudi Arabia’s transformation by providing skilled human capital, competitive products and reliable business partnerships. At the same time, Saudi investment can contribute greatly to Pakistan’s infrastructure, mining, energy, agriculture and technology sectors. Presently, bilateral trade remains below its true potential and is largely influenced by Pakistan’s energy imports. We need to broaden Pakistan’s export base by promoting value-added textiles, food products, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, IT services and engineering goods. Greater business-to-business engagement, joint ventures, trade exhibitions and simpler regulatory procedures will be essential.
Professional bodies, chambers of commerce and business forums can also play an important role by connecting credible investors, entrepreneurs and experts from both countries. In my view, the future of Pakistan–Saudi Arabia relations should move beyond traditional government-to-government cooperation toward a strong private-sector-led partnership. With continuity in policies, transparent investment mechanisms and effective implementation, both countries can transform their historic relationship into a powerful engine for shared economic growth and regional prosperity.
PAGE: Pakistan fully stands with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, both diplomatically and physically. How would you comment on it?
Zia Ul Mustafa Awan: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy a relationship that extends far beyond conventional diplomacy. It is built on shared faith, mutual trust, strategic cooperation and strong people-to-people connections. Pakistan has consistently supported the Kingdom’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, and this commitment is deeply valued by both nations. However, such cooperation also operates within a challenging regional environment. Geopolitical tensions, conflicts in the Middle East, economic pressures and rapidly changing international alliances require both countries to act with wisdom and strategic balance. Pakistan must support Saudi Arabia while continuing to advocate dialogue, peaceful conflict resolution and regional stability. Pakistan also faces domestic economic and security constraints that may limit its capacity at times. Therefore, its support should be well-defined, sustainable and aligned with national interests and international obligations. It should include diplomatic coordination, defense cooperation, intelligence sharing, professional training and humanitarian assistance, where appropriate. The relationship should not be viewed as one-sided. Saudi Arabia has supported Pakistan during difficult periods, while Pakistani professionals and workers have contributed significantly to the Kingdom’s development. The partnership is therefore based on mutual respect and shared interests. In my view, Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi Arabia remains firm. The real challenge is to translate this goodwill into stronger institutional cooperation in security, trade, investment, technology and human-capital development, making the relationship more resilient, balanced and beneficial for both nations.
PAGE: What is your take on Saudi Arabia’s investment in energy, petroleum, agriculture and infrastructural development in Pakistan?
Zia Ul Mustafa Awan: Saudi Arabia’s investment in Pakistan’s energy, petroleum, agriculture and infrastructure sectors can become a major driver of long-term economic growth. These are strategic sectors where Pakistan requires capital, technology and managerial expertise, while Saudi Arabia seeks commercially viable opportunities that also support its broader economic diversification objectives.
Investment in energy and petroleum can strengthen Pakistan’s energy security, reduce supply-side pressures and support industrial growth. However, the focus should extend beyond conventional fuels to renewable energy, transmission systems, storage facilities and energy-efficient technologies. Agriculture offers equally strong potential. Saudi investment in corporate farming, food processing, cold chains, modern irrigation and agricultural technology can improve productivity and food security in both countries. Nevertheless, such projects must protect the rights of local farmers, use water responsibly and ensure that benefits are shared fairly. In infrastructure, investment in transport, logistics, ports, industrial zones and urban development can improve connectivity, create employment and enhance Pakistan’s competitiveness.
The real challenge is not attracting investment announcements but converting them into successfully implemented projects. Pakistan must provide policy continuity, transparent regulations, timely approvals, credible feasibility studies and effective dispute-resolution mechanisms. Projects should be commercially sound rather than dependent solely on political goodwill. If managed professionally, Saudi investment can move the bilateral relationship from financial support towards sustainable economic partnership, creating jobs, transferring technology, expanding productive capacity and generating measurable benefits for both countries.
PAGE: What is your take on the recent development between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in terms of diplomacy, trade and security?
Zia Ul Mustafa Awan: Recent developments indicate that Pakistan–Saudi Arabia relations are entering a more structured and strategic phase. Frequent high-level diplomatic engagement reflects strong mutual trust and a shared commitment to regional stability, economic cooperation and long-term partnership. On the diplomatic front, both countries continue to support each other on important regional and international matters. However, a rapidly changing geopolitical environment requires careful coordination, particularly regarding conflicts in the Middle East, relations with major global powers and the pursuit of peaceful regional solutions. In trade and investment, the relationship is gradually moving beyond traditional financial assistance towards commercially viable partnerships. Cooperation in energy, mining, agriculture, information technology, infrastructure and human-capital development offers considerable potential. Nevertheless, progress will depend on Pakistan’s ability to convert commitments into implemented projects through policy continuity, regulatory transparency and timely decision-making. Security cooperation remains another important pillar. Defense training, intelligence coordination, counterterrorism cooperation and maritime security contribute to the stability of both countries. Such collaboration should remain defensive, transparent and consistent with Pakistan’s national interests and commitment to regional peace. Overall, the direction is highly positive. The principal challenge is to institutionalize the relationship so that it does not depend only on leadership-level goodwill. Stronger engagement among businesses, professional institutions, universities and technology organizations can make the partnership broader, more resilient and directly beneficial to the people of both nations.