Expo 2020 Dubai: Pakistan pavilion wins ‘silver award’ for interior design

People visit the Pakistan pavilion the Expo 2020, in the Gulf emirate of Dubai, on November 12, 2021. (AFP)
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Updated 31 March 2022
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Expo 2020 Dubai: Pakistan pavilion wins ‘silver award’ for interior design

  • International jury gave the award to Pakistan out of 192 pavilions
  • Last week Pakistan pavilion won best exterior from BURJ CEO Awards

ISLAMABAD: An international jury called to select the best pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai has awarded the Silver Award to Pakistan for interior design out of 192 pavilions, Pakistani commerce chief Abdul Razak Dawood said on Thursday.
Last week, the Pakistan pavilion won the BURJ CEO Award for “Best Pavilion Exterior Design.” 
The Pakistan pavilion has been visited by over one million people since its launch in October last year. 
“An international jury was called to select the best Pavilion at Expo 2020 and Pakistan got Silver Award for interior design out of 192 Pavilions. The response we received was overwhelming, & Pavilion already crossed 1M [million] visitors mark which exceeded our expectations,” Dawood said in twitter post.

He thanked Pakistan’s creative team and embassy in the UAE for showcasing the country’s culture at the pavilion.


Pakistan assures US of facilitating foreign investment, increasing business engagement

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Pakistan assures US of facilitating foreign investment, increasing business engagement

  • Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb meets US deputy assistant secretary of South and Central Asian Affairs
  • Both sides discuss Pakistan’s progress in implementing reforms, avenues for increasing economic cooperation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to facilitating foreign investment and enhancing engagement with the American business community, the Finance Division said in a statement. 

The statement was issued after Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met Mark Pommersheim, the US deputy assistant secretary of the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs. Pommersheim called on the Pakistani finance minister along with US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker at the Finance Division. 

Both sides discussed Pakistan’s economic outlook, reform agenda and avenues for enhancing bilateral economic cooperation, the statement said. 

“The finance minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating foreign investment and maintaining regular engagement with the US business community, including the US Chamber of Commerce and the American Business Council,” the Finance Division said. 

Aurangzeb informed the US officials about the progress regarding Pakistan’s macroeconomic stabilization reforms. He shared that Pakistan’s fiscal deficit has declined in recent months while the country’s current account has improved due to strong remittance inflows and growth in IT exports.

The finance minister noted that reforms in Pakistan’s state-owned enterprises and “right-sizing” of the public sector are being accelerated to improve efficiency and reduce fiscal risks.

The Finance Division said Pommersheim acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts toward fiscal stabilization, welcoming improvement in key macroeconomic indicators. 

“He emphasized that the United States values a stable and prosperous Pakistan and noted that strengthening the investment climate remains a shared priority,” the statement said. 

“He observed that US businesses are closely watching reform progress and that improved policy consistency would further support commercial engagement.”

Pakistan has sought to re-energize economic diplomacy with Washington as it attempts to enhance its exports, attract foreign investment and stabilize its economy under an International Monetary Fund-backed reform program.

Relations between Pakistan and the US have improved significantly under President Trump’s administration. In July 2025, the two countries agreed to a bilateral trade deal that included reciprocal tariff reductions. 

Since 2025, the two sides have increased diplomatic contacts, including meetings between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s military leadership and US officials, alongside discussions on trade, minerals, security cooperation and regional stability.