Call for steps to benefit from future opportunities in ME

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2026) Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) Chief Executive Officer Mian Kashif Ashfaq said on Sunday

that ongoing situation in middle East (ME) presets a window of opportunity for Pakistan over

the medium to long term.

Talking to economic reporters here, he added, "Though it’s painful situation which we can’t

escape immediately but it can help position Pakistan to benefit from future opportunities."

PFC Chief suggested urgent reforms, closer financial sector coordination and a shift towards

energy self-reliance to navigate through unfolding exogenous shocks.

At the macro-economic level, he pointed to the energy disruptions and rising global energy

prices as the most immediate threats cautioning that these would significantly increase the

cost of doing business.

He also identified remittances as another potential risk area while

flows have remained stable so far, prolonged conflict could disrupt inflows from the Gulf,

which accounts for around 55 percent of Pakistan’s remittances which could potentially

widen the current account deficit.

Mian Kashif, however, hoped that reconstruction activities in the region could eventually

boost demand for Pakistani labour particularly blue collar workers, creating upside potential

for remittance inflows. Despite the challenges, he expressed optimism about Pakistan’s

positioning. "If we capitalize this moment, undertake structural reforms and leverage emerging

opportunities particularly in reconstruction and regional trade, Pakistan can emerge stronger,"

he concluded.