Islamabad, March 17,2026: The Senate Standing Committee on Commerce, chaired by Senator Anusha Rahman, on Tuesday raised serious concerns over the proposed Expo Centre Quetta project and reviewed a range of trade, development and institutional matters during a virtual meeting.
The committee examined budget utilization of the Ministry of Commerce and considered Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) proposals for the upcoming fiscal year 2026–27. Members were informed that two development projects had been proposed, including the Rs4.8 billion Expo Centre Quetta.
Senators from Balochistan questioned the suitability and security of the proposed site, noting it was located far from the city and may not be viable for hosting trade exhibitions. Representatives from the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry echoed these concerns, while officials from the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) confirmed that a request for an alternate site had been declined by the provincial government.
The committee observed that proceeding with the project at the current location could result in wastage of public funds and place an unnecessary burden on the national exchequer. It unanimously recommended that the project be put on hold until the issue is taken up with the Balochistan government and an alternative site is identified.
The panel further directed the Ministry of Commerce to arrange a meeting between the federal commerce minister and the Balochistan chief minister within a week to resolve the matter, and to defer budget approval for the project until then.
On another PSDP proposal titled “Export Accelerator for SMEs,” members suggested that export development initiatives should ideally be financed through the Export Development Fund (EDF). The ministry was directed to place the project before the EDF Board before seeking PSDP funding.
The committee also reviewed compliance on earlier recommendations concerning offices of the Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan, including patent, copyright and trademark registries in Karachi. While acknowledging improved outreach efforts, the chairperson expressed concern over a significant backlog of cases and directed that it be cleared within six months. IPO officials assured the committee that capacity-building measures were underway.
Briefings were also given on initiatives by TDAP to promote women entrepreneurs and strengthen cottage industries. The committee appreciated the establishment of a dedicated Women Entrepreneurs Division and partnerships with organizations such as Pakistan Single Window, but called for more proactive policy measures to expand support.
Additionally, Trade and Investment Counsellors posted in South Korea and Jeddah briefed the committee on trade opportunities. The chairperson highlighted prospects for expanding trade with South Korea, including the potential for a free trade agreement, and underscored opportunities arising from Saudi Arabia’s emerging data centre projects.
Officials informed the committee that around 100 Pakistani IT companies have already established operations in Saudi Arabia, with key exports including food products and textiles. The committee urged authorities to explore further employment and business opportunities for Pakistani professionals in the region.
The meeting was attended by several senators, including Sarmad Ali, Amir Waliuddin Chishti, Saleem Mandviwala, Rahat Jamali and Bilal Ahmed.
