Islamabad, October 7,2026: President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Mohammad Zikria Akbar Zia has invited French and European investors to explore Pakistan’s largely untapped tourism potential and called for stronger business partnerships between Pakistan and France in tourism, sustainable infrastructure, luxury brands, fragrances, cosmetics and other high-value sectors.
Addressing a 12-member delegation of the Pakistan Business Forum France & Europe, led by its Vice President Dr. Hamza Taj, at the Chamber House, he said greater economic, technological, cultural and tourism cooperation could help translate the existing goodwill between the two countries into concrete business opportunities.
Mohammad Zikria Akbar Zia said Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan and other scenic regions offered significant potential for sustainable tourism development, including eco-friendly cottages, small tourist villages and modern hospitality facilities modeled on successful tourism destinations in the Swiss and French Alps.
He emphasized that Pakistan could benefit from French and European expertise in sustainable tourism, natural-resource management, conservation and hospitality development.
He said joint ventures between Pakistani and French companies could help develop tourism destinations, attract more European visitors, create employment and generate investment while ensuring the protection of the environment and preservation of Pakistan’s natural heritage.
Vice President Pakistan Business Forum France & Europe Dr. Hamza Taj, Chief Organizer Chaudhary Mohammad Salman Aslam, Secretary General Yassir Khan, Patron-in-Chief Ibrahim Mohammad, Mayor of Villiers-le-Bel Djida Techtach, Mayor of Creil Omar Yaqoob, Malika Bilad, Saima Bhatti and other delegation members highlighted the wide-ranging potential for trade, investment and tourism cooperation between Pakistan and France.
The delegation stressed the importance of closer institutional collaboration between the Pakistan Business Forum France & Europe and ICCI to identify, promote and capitalize on emerging business opportunities.
ICCI Senior Vice President Mohammad Ashfaq Hussain Chattah moderated the session, while ICCI Executive Member Saddaf Asim Abbasi, former ICCI President Mian Shaukat Masood and other participants took part in an interactive question-and-answer session on prospects for bilateral trade, investment, tourism and joint ventures.
Those attending included ICCI Vice President Mohammad Waqas Khan, Executive Members Umer Hussain Malik, Abbas Hashmi, Mohammad Israr Mishwani, Shahid Abbasi, Syed Imran Bukhari, Rana Istkhar Ali Khan, Mazhar Hussain and Mohammad Nauman, along with Muhammad Arif, Muhammad Fawad Sehgal, Mohammad Khurshid, Muhammad Sohail Chaudhry, Malik Rashid Tufail, Nageena Khaleeque and other members of the business community.
