MULTAN, Nov 30 (APP):A business delegation of the Europe Pakistan Economic Corridor (EPEC) visited the Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI).
Senior Vice President MCCI Mohsin Khawaja, Vice President Muhammad Azhar Baloch, Mian Fazal Elahi, Mian Rashid Iqbal, Sheikh Asim Saeed, Abdullah Shakoor, Dr. Atif Shafiq, Gail Hill, Catherine Bentley, Dr. Abdul Rehman Abid, Sheikh Umair Saeed, Muhammad Waseem Sheikh, Ammar Raza Sheikh, Sheikh Zafar, Ahtisham ul Haq, Zafar Iqbal Siddiqui, Aurangzeb Alamgir, Secretary General Muhammad Shafiq and others were present.
Addressing the ceremony, Dr Abdul Hafeez MBE, Founder and CEO of EPEC, said the organization has built a strong global platform over the past 21 years to connect Pakistani professionals, businesspersons and investors worldwide.
He said the initiative began as ABS-UK, originally meant for Pakistani doctors and medical experts, but has now expanded to include professionals from all fields.
He said first-generation Pakistani expatriates registered with the General Medical Council form the core of the organization, and after COVID-19, its global expansion accelerated through ABS Europe, ABS Middle East, ABS China and ABS Africa.
Branches now exist in seven European and six Middle Eastern countries, while networks in China and Africa are also growing rapidly.
Dr Hafeez said Pakistani entrepreneurs abroad face barriers of language, culture and digital literacy, and EPEC provides them guidance on global business standards and practices. He said quality control was the organization’s key principle, and no business was accepted unless it meets international criteria. He added that the E-Pak Zone was offering opportunities in investment, property, green energy, tourism and technology, and he would soon visit Tulsa to pursue further development of the trade zone to open new doors for Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, EPEC Chief Operating Officer Abdullah Shakoor said the world faces a shortage of 4.5 million nurses, creating vast opportunities for Pakistani nurses globally. He said almost 95 percent of EU tariffs for Pakistani businesspersons were zero, allowing them to become 5–10 percent more competitive.
Europe was a major market for Pakistani software houses, medical devices, textile
products and agricultural goods, provided they meet SPS/CITO rules and other standards.
He said the EPEC Trade Door offers direct access to customs declaration, business meetings, negotiation support and professional services. The organization aims to link local industries with global markets based on each city’s strengths. For Multan, he said medical devices, textiles and food products hold significant potential in international trade.
MCCI Senior Vice President Mohsin Khawaja said the economic growth of Multan and South Punjab was their top priority. The region holds vast opportunities in agriculture, industry and trade that can strengthen the national economy. He welcomed local and foreign investors for business and joint ventures, adding that modern technology could lead the region into a new era of development. He said the chamber was ready to cooperate
with all stakeholders committed to Pakistan’s progress, stability and economic partnership.
