Islamabad, June 11, 2026: In a significant move to strengthen public-private collaboration for a safer and more prosperous Pakistan, the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) have agreed to establish a comprehensive framework of cooperation focused on national security awareness, prevention of violent extremism, economic resilience, business continuity, entrepreneurship development, community engagement and social cohesion.
The understanding was reached during a visit by NACTA National Coordinator Jawad Ahmad Dogar to the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He was accompanied by Dr. Uzma Siraj, Director Gender Initiatives; Faiza Fatima, Deputy Director; and Mujeeb Talpur, Consultant Media.
Under the agreed framework, both organizations will establish a Joint Working Group (JWG) comprising representatives from ICCI and NACTA. The group will oversee project approvals, implementation reviews, coordination mechanisms and the expansion of collaborative initiatives.
To facilitate effective coordination, Dr. Uzma Siraj from NACTA and Adnan Mukhtar, Convener of the ICCI Standing Committee on Higher Education Commission (HEC), have been designated as focal persons.
Addressing the gathering, Jawad Ahmad Dogar emphasized the importance of engaging the business community as a key stakeholder in fostering a secure, peaceful and prosperous society. He said the partnership aims to enhance national resilience through policy dialogue, research initiatives, capacity-building programmes and public-private engagement.
He noted that youth entrepreneurship, employment generation, women’s empowerment and increased economic participation would remain central pillars of the collaboration. He stressed that sustainable economic growth and social harmony are essential components of long-term national security and collective prosperity.
Welcoming the NACTA delegation, ICCI President Sardar Tahir Mehmood highlighted the Chamber’s longstanding efforts to promote ease of doing business and strengthen the private sector. He said that despite numerous challenges, Pakistan’s business community remains committed to contributing to national economic development and transforming the country into a competitive regional economic hub.
The ICCI president also outlined the Chamber’s future roadmap and ongoing initiatives aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, startups and innovation through stronger industry-academia linkages. He reaffirmed ICCI’s commitment to supporting women-led enterprises, youth development programmes and inclusive economic growth as key drivers of sustainable national development.
Participants expressed confidence that the collaboration between ICCI and NACTA would foster meaningful engagement between the public and private sectors, helping strengthen social cohesion, economic stability and national resilience.
The meeting was attended by ICCI Vice President Irfan Chaudhry, Executive Committee members Abdul Rehman Siddiqui, Zulqurnain Abbasi and Waseem Chaudhry, former Senior Vice President Khalid Chaudhry, ICCI Secretary General Ghulam Murtaza, senior members Sajid Iqbal and Uzma Sheeraz, along with representatives from NACTA and the business community.
