Islamabad, August 5, 2026: President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Sardar Tahir Mehmood, on Wednesday said Pakistan’s economic transformation depends on strengthening linkages between industry, innovation, investment and entrepreneurship, emphasizing that collaborative platforms are vital for building a competitive and globally connected economy.
He expressed these views while addressing the soft launch and cake-cutting ceremony of GOPKZ Industry Connect as the chief guest at the ICCI Chamber House in Islamabad.
Welcoming participants, Sardar Tahir Mehmood said Pakistan’s private sector possesses the resilience, talent and entrepreneurial spirit needed to compete in international markets, provided businesses are supported through an enabling environment for growth.
He said initiatives such as GOPKZ Industry Connect offer valuable opportunities for entrepreneurs, manufacturers, startups, investors and institutions to exchange ideas, forge strategic partnerships and unlock new avenues for investment and industrial cooperation.
Highlighting the importance of innovation-led development, the ICCI president said the future belongs to economies that embrace technology, innovation and effective public-private collaboration. He reaffirmed the chamber’s commitment to serving as a bridge between Pakistan and the international business community by facilitating investment, promoting entrepreneurship, supporting sustainable industries and strengthening global business linkages.
Speaking on the occasion, GOPKZ Group Executive Vice President Muhammad Shahroz Habib said the platform aims to establish a unified ecosystem where businesses, innovators, investors and policymakers can work together to accelerate Pakistan’s economic development.
He said GOPKZ Industry Connect has been designed to showcase the country’s industrial potential, encourage innovation and facilitate meaningful partnerships capable of generating long-term economic value.
ICCI Senior Vice President Tahir Ayub said the chamber remains committed to promoting investment, facilitating international partnerships, encouraging innovation, supporting sustainable industries and creating business-friendly platforms that enable enterprises to thrive in an increasingly interconnected global marketplace.
The ceremony was attended by ICCI Vice President Mohammad Irfan Chaudhry, Executive Members Waseem Chaudhry and Zulqurnain Abbasi, former Senior Vice Presidents Khalid Chaudhry and Naveed Malik, senior ICCI members Aizaz Mohammad and Sajid Iqbal, along with a large number of business leaders and stakeholders from the private sector.
