Federal Minister for Commerce, Mr. Jam Kamal Khan, officially inaugurated the 3rd International Food & Agriculture Exhibition—FoodAg 2025—at the Expo Centre in Karachi today. This premier event, the largest of its kind, will be open for B2B interactions and the signing of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to promote agricultural and related products from Pakistan from November 25 to 27, 2025. The initial round of stalls showed that traders responded positively to their product-related inquiries.
Mr. Jam Kamal Khan stated that Pakistan has achieved economic stability under the vision of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and is now making significant progress to confront future challenges. He noted that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program remains intact, and Islamabad is expected to sign more free trade agreements (FTAs) with regional countries while exploring new markets to accelerate exports. He also highlighted that inflation and interest rates in Pakistan have significantly decreased.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan has issued orders to immediately eliminate the federal Export Development Surcharge. This decision aims to reduce the cost of doing business and boost national exports, according to the Minister.
Regarding the Afghan-Pakistan trade issue, Pakistan reiterated that trade between Islamabad and Kabul will not resume until Afghanistan takes significant measures to prevent cross-border infiltration by terrorists and eliminate their hideouts. Mr. Jam Kamal Khan emphasized that while Islamabad is prepared to endure trade losses, it will prioritize the safety of its citizens and security forces. He stated that Kabul must cease cross-border terrorist activities and that Pakistan is ready to reopen trade routes if cooperation is extended in both spirit and practice.
As an update from the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) indicates, under the theme “Harvesting Innovation, Cultivating Sustainability,” more than 350 leading exporters from Pakistan are showcasing the country’s top products, including Basmati rice, dehydrated mangoes, kinnows, dates, Himalayan pink salt, premium seafood, halal meat, dairy products, spices, and value-added foods. They are engaging with over 800 pre-qualified international buyers from more than 80 countries—the largest buyer delegation ever hosted by Pakistan for a single trade event.
Mr. Faiz Ahmad, Chief Executive of TDAP, stated, “We are not just hosting an exhibition; we are opening the doors to Pakistan’s abundant harvest and our unwavering commitment to feeding the world reliably and sustainably. In just three years, FoodAg has become the region’s most important food trade platform because Pakistan consistently delivers, never restricting food exports, even in challenging times. With thousands of pre-scheduled B2B meetings taking place over the next three days, we expect business generation to exceed USD 1 billion, creating thousands of jobs and long-term partnerships that will benefit farmers and exporters across the country.”
The Honourable Federal Minister for Commerce, Mr. Jam Kamal Khan, highlighted, “Pakistan’s diverse agro-climatic zones and the Government’s focused policies under the Prime Minister’s proactive market-opening diplomacy are transforming us from a large producer into a leading branded supplier. FoodAg 2025, with this historic gathering of serious international buyers under one roof, clearly demonstrates that our strategy is delivering results.”
The record delegation of buyers includes top importers from Asia (over 300, led by major Chinese state and private companies, as well as Malaysia’s BERNAS, Indonesia’s PT Laris Manis Utama, and prominent Sri Lankan conglomerates), Europe (including Surya Foods—Europe’s largest basmati buyer, AIB Foods, Aytac Foods, Schepens & Co. Belgium, and Migros Türkiye), the Middle East and GCC (such as Mercury Me DMCC, Sunder Trading Qatar, and D Ocean Fisheries Bahrain), Africa (over 200 buyers from Kenya, Somalia, Cameroon, Angola, Rwanda, Mauritius, and others), along with key players from Australia, Canada, the USA, and Russia.
FoodAg 2025 will feature thousands of pre-arranged B2B meetings, nine high-level conferences on sustainability and traceability, and a spectacular Pakistan Cuisine Pavilion showcasing 21 celebrity chefs from five continents, all preparing live dishes using only Pakistani ingredients. This landmark event is expected to generate more than USD 1 billion in export business.
In addition, an MoU was signed between the UK and Pakistan to strengthen Pakistani product exports to the UK.
