Bilateral trade between Pakistan and Canada has crossed the $1 billion mark per year, highlighting growing economic and commercial ties between the two countries, Canada Pakistan Business Council (CPBC) President Samir Dossal said at a ceremony at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Tuesday.
Dossal noted that this milestone reflects increasing confidence of Canadian businesses in Pakistan’s economy and the market potential of Pakistan’s population of over 240 million. He emphasized that the strong performance of the PSX signals improving stability and new investment opportunities.
Trade between the two nations has surged from $300 million in 2012 to more than $1 billion today. Key sectors driving this growth include agriculture, education, innovation, and consumer brands. In the agri-food sector, longstanding regulatory issues were resolved, enabling the import of 500,000 tons of Canadian canola via Karachi Port.
Dossal also highlighted the growing educational and innovation partnerships, including a newly signed collaboration between NED University and Toronto Metropolitan University, aimed at research and knowledge exchange.
Canadian consumer brands are expanding in Pakistan as well, with Tim Hortons opening outlets in Karachi and Lahore, Mary Brown’s Chicken entering the market, and Second Cup operating over 50 outlets nationwide.
He said these developments signal that Canadian companies increasingly view Pakistan as a long-term investment destination, moving beyond traditional trade toward deeper economic cooperation. The CPBC facilitates this bilateral trade, which now exceeds $1 billion annually, reinforcing the strategic commercial relationship between Pakistan and Canada.