Last Updated on October 9, 2026 by YeJahan
YEJAHAN REPORT
ISLAMABAD (Oct 9): Pakistan and Sweden have renewed their commitment to boosting economic cooperation and revising their bilateral investment treaty, with the first round of negotiations scheduled for November 2026.
The decision follows a high-profile meeting between Federal Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh and the Swedish Ambassador to Pakistan, Alexandra Berg von Linde here on Friday. During the talks, the minister highlighted that more than 40 Swedish companies already operate in Pakistan, noting that vast potential remains to expand commercial ties and cross-border investment.
To entice international backers, Mr Sheikh outlined aggressive fiscal incentives within Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs), which include complete income tax exemptions and custom duty relief running until 2035. He identified key growth areas ripe for Swedish capital, including agriculture, minerals, information technology, engineering, and manufacturing. The minister also noted that a dedicated Business Facilitation Centre now serves as a one-window operation to streamline regulatory approvals for foreign entities.
Beyond trade, the discussion touched on academic collaboration, exploring potential joint research initiatives and student exchanges between Pakistani and Swedish universities. Mr Sheikh emphasised that the Board of Investment remains fully mobilised to dismantle bureaucratic hurdles and help Pakistan scale up its value-added exports.
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Ambassador Berg von Linde assured the minister that Sweden would actively brief its corporate sector on the financial incentives available within Pakistan’s SEZs. She added that Sweden is particularly keen to collaborate on sustainable development and energy transition projects, promising direct engagement with Swedish executives to identify and resolve practical barriers to investment.
Copyright YeJahan News Network, 2026
