93 Pakistani companies participate in Gulfood trade fair from Feb. 13-17

People walk past a stall of a Pakistani company called Ahmed Foods at Gulfood in Dubai, UAE, on February 14, 2022. (Photo courtesy: Ammad Sheikh, Managing Director Ahmed Foods)
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Updated 14 February 2022
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93 Pakistani companies participate in Gulfood trade fair from Feb. 13-17

  • Gulfood is the world's largest annual food and beverage trade exhibition
  • Over 4,000 companies from 120 countries are attending the event in Dubai

ISLAMABAD: Ninety three Pakistani companies are participating in this year’s edition of Gulfood in Dubai, Pakistan’s Consulate General in Dubai said on Monday as top diplomatic officials visited Pakistani stalls.
Gulfood is the world's largest annual food and beverage trade exhibition. This year the event will run from February 13-17, giving food entrepreneurs access to more than 5000 local, regional and international suppliers from five continents. This year’s exhibition opened with its most expansive exhibitor line-up yet, including new pavilions from the Norwegian seafood industry, Uruguay, Panama, and Uzbekistan who will be joined by newcomers from Australia, Colombia, South Africa, Switzerland, and Hong Kong.
The Pakistani consul general in Dubai visited the Pakistani stalls today, Monday, at the Dubai World Trade Centre. 
“Mr.Hassan Afzal Khan,Consul General of Pakistan,Dubai visited Pakistani Stalls at #Gulffood2022 today,” the Consulate General tweeted. “Pakistan is participating with 93 companies from Food & Beverages sector in the 27th Edition of Gulf Food(13-17 Feb)Dubai.”

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA), opened the 27th edition of Gulfood on Sunday. Over 4,000 companies from 120 countries, a line-up of industry leading speakers, and the world’s best chefs are attending the event.
Visitors to the event will be able to meet buyers looking to take orders for the latest and industry-defining products while exhibitors seek to draw customers looking to fill their order books at the year’s first global food and beverages gathering.
“Global food buyers, importers, and distributors will take advantage of the networking opportunities to find supplies suitable to their target market,” Flavie Paquay, Head of Business France’s UAE office & F&B department, said. “During the preparation phase for the event, I could witness how excited are French exhibitors to showcase their latest products, specifically produced to fit with Middle Eastern taste buds.”
“Participating at the largest annual F&B sourcing event in the world has become a tradition for France. We are excited to renew our commitment by taking part in the 27th edition of the Gulfood and share with the visitors the values of the French food industry: Excellence, responsibility, authenticity, sharing, and innovation,” Paquay added.

 


Pakistan to send over 10,000 workers to Italy over three years after securing employment quota

Updated 27 December 2025
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Pakistan to send over 10,000 workers to Italy over three years after securing employment quota

  • Government says Italy will admit 3,500 workers annually under seasonal and non-seasonal labor schemes
  • It calls the deal a 'milestone' as Italy becomes the first European country to allocate job quota for Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has secured a quota of 10,500 jobs from Italy over the next three years, an official statement said on Saturday, opening legal employment pathways for Pakistani workers in Europe under Italy’s seasonal and non-seasonal labor programs.

Under the arrangement, 3,500 Pakistani workers will be employed in Italy each year, including 1,500 seasonal workers hired for time-bound roles, and 2,000 non-seasonal workers for longer-term employment across sectors.

The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development said Italy is the first European country to allocate a dedicated labor quota to Pakistan, describing the move as a milestone in Pakistan’s efforts to expand overseas employment opportunities beyond traditional labor markets in the Middle East.

“After prolonged efforts, doors to employment for the Pakistani workforce in Italy are about to open,” Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain said, calling the quota allocation a “historic milestone.”

The jobs will be available across multiple sectors, including shipbreaking, hospitality, healthcare and agriculture, with opportunities for skilled and semi-skilled workers in professions such as welding, technical trades, food services, housekeeping, nursing, medical technology and farming.

The agreement comes as Pakistan seeks to diversify overseas employment destinations for its workforce and increase remittance inflows, which remain a key source of foreign exchange for the country’s economy.

The ministry said a second meeting of the Pakistan-Italy Joint Working Group on labor cooperation is scheduled to be held in Islamabad in February 2026, where implementation and future cooperation are expected to be discussed.