Plans on restoring labour presence to 40,000, open Lucky Cement plant to tap opportunities
LAHORE:
Pakistan’s Ambassador-Designate to Libya has pledged to double the country’s exports to Libya and increase the number of Pakistani workers in the North African nation from 20,000 to 40,000, according to a statement issued on Saturday.
Major General (Retd) Mumtaz Hussain made the commitment while addressing a seminar on “Enhancing Pakistan-Libya Trade and Economic Cooperation” organised by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).
According to State Bank of Pakistan figures for 2025-26, Pakistan imported goods worth approximately $1.1 million from Libya, while exports stood at $13.1 million. LCCI President Faheemur Rehman Saigol said considering the size of both economies and the complementary nature of their markets, bilateral trade should comfortably exceed $1 billion.
Hussain described his new assignment as a mission to reconnect businesses with a market offering considerable untapped opportunities. He emphasised that his primary role would be that of a facilitator and connector between Pakistani and Libyan stakeholders.
The ambassador-designate informed participants that despite perceptions about instability, Libya presents significant opportunities. He highlighted positive developments toward national reconciliation and noted that a market of over seven million people, with considerable purchasing power and reconstruction needs, offers promising prospects for Pakistani businesses. Hussain also shared encouraging news that Lucky Cement is in the final stages of establishing a cement plant in Libya, describing it as a positive signal for Pakistani investment in the country.
He pointed out the decline of Pakistani workers in Libya from approximately 80,000-90,000 in previous years to around 15,000-20,000 currently, stressing the need to reverse this trend.
He assured the business community that he would actively pursue solutions to challenges including banking channels, market access and visa-related issues.
The LCCI president emphasised the need to transform strong political ties into robust economic partnerships. He identified opportunities for Pakistani exporters in value-added textiles, surgical instruments, processed foods, sports goods, engineering products, construction materials and IT services, while also highlighting prospects for joint ventures in oil and gas services. He reaffirmed LCCI’s commitment to facilitating business-to-business contacts, trade delegations, exhibitions and information exchange between the business communities of both countries.
Encouraging Pakistani entrepreneurs to explore opportunities before competitors capture emerging market share, Hussain underscored that trade and commerce thrive on cooperation and partnership. He assured participants that the Embassy of Pakistan in Libya would remain fully accessible to support genuine business initiatives and facilitate commercial engagement.
