Pakistan opens pavilion at Big 5 Global trade event in Dubai

People walk past Big 5 Global 2025 exhibition in Dubai, UAE on November 24, 2025. (Big 5 Global/Facebook)
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Updated 25 November 2025
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Pakistan opens pavilion at Big 5 Global trade event in Dubai

  • Nine Pakistani firms exhibit building materials, construction technology at major UAE trade fair
  • Event offers Pakistani exporters access to new buyers as Middle East construction demand rises

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan inaugurated its pavilion at the Big 5 Global 2025 exhibition in Dubai on Monday, showcasing a range of building materials and construction technologies as the Gulf region accelerates large-scale infrastructure and real estate development. 

The Big 5 Global is one of the world’s largest construction industry gatherings, bringing together companies involved in supply chains, urban planning, infrastructure design, and facilities management. The Gulf region, particularly the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, has been a growing market for construction inputs, creating opportunities for export-oriented manufacturers from countries like Pakistan. The annual exhibition serves as a key platform for firms seeking entry into regional procurement networks and long-term buyers.

Speaking at the inauguration of the event, Hussain Muhammad, Pakistan’s consul general in Dubai, said nine exhibitors from Pakistan were participating under the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan.

“Pakistani companies are presenting a diverse range of products and services, including electric cables, lighting solutions, PVC pipes, U-PVC windows and doors, aluminum architecture, and laminated boards,” Muhammad was quoted as saying in a statement by his office after he opened the Pakistan pavilion at the Dubai World Trade Center. 

“The event provides exhibitors with a premier platform to promote innovation, sustainability, and technological advancement in building materials and construction sector.”

Pakistan’s trade mission in the UAE said the fair offers a critical channel for Pakistani firms to tap into regional and global markets. Trade Counsellor Ali Zeb Khan emphasized the export potential of the event, saying the UAE offers “excellent opportunities for Pakistani firms to connect with international buyers, explore new markets, and contribute to Pakistan’s export growth.”

Pakistan’s participation in the Big 5 Global event this year is aimed at boosting its presence in the regional construction supply chain and promoting export diversification at a time when the country is seeking to expand foreign exchange earnings.


Pakistan’s PIA enters into cargo deal with Air France-KLM to boost exports

Updated 04 February 2026
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Pakistan’s PIA enters into cargo deal with Air France-KLM to boost exports

  • As per agreement, PIA’s freight division will gain access to Air France-KLM’s network of European, American cities
  • Exporters will be able to use both PIA, Air France–KLM’s networks under a single air waybill, says Pakistani airline

KARACHI: The recently privatized Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced on Wednesday that it has entered into a cargo agreement with global aviation group Air France-KLM to expand its global outreach and push Pakistani exports to more international markets.

The PIA said its agreement with Air France-KLM came into force on Jan. 15. Air France-KLM operates in 320 destinations and is a global aviation player in passenger, cargo and maintenance businesses. 

As per the agreement, PIA Cargo, the airline’s freight division, will gain access to Air France–KLM’s global network. Through the deal, PIA Cargo will gain access to Air France–KLM’s global network via Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam. 

Air France-KLM’s network includes major European cities such as Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Düsseldorf, and New York, Atlanta and Los Angeles, the PIA said. 

“Significant improvement is expected in the exports of Pakistani products and access to global markets,” the PIA said in a statement. 

Exporters will be able to use both the PIA’s and Air France–KLM’s networks under a single air waybill, the airline said. 

An air waybill is a document used in international air shipping that serves as a legal, non-negotiable contract between the shipper and the airline. 

In November 2025, PIA and Biman Bangladesh Airlines signed a Cargo Interline Special Agreement to expand cargo business and augment bilateral trade. The partnership aims to minimize logistical complexities in transporting commodities.

The PIA was Pakistan’s national flag carrier until a Pakistani consortium, led by the Arif Habib Group, secured a 75 percent stake in the airline in December for Rs135 billion ($482 million). Pakistan had previously attempted to reform the debt-ridden airline, which had accumulated more than $2.8 billion in financial losses over the years. 

PIA’s new owner Arif Habib announced last week that the airline is in talks with aerospace manufacturers Boeing and Airbus as it plans to revamp service and expand its current fleet. 

The PIA has said it plans to increase the airline’s fleet to 64 aircraft from the current figure of 19 over the next eight years.