By Muhammad Saleem

The Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT) has shortlisted 20 proposals from a pool of 86 received from various departments, finalizing them for conversion into projects that will be promoted to investors across the globe. A PBIT spokesperson told Wealth Pakistan that more than 76 consultation sessions were held to carefully examine the proposals before narrowing them down.

“The board will present these investment opportunities at the global level, as the private sector’s active role is essential for economic growth in Punjab,” he stated. One of the most prominent projects is the establishment of a food processing unit aimed at reducing post-harvest losses. The spokesperson explained that Punjab produces around 60% of Pakistan’s food and fruit, yet much of its exportable surplus is lost. “The overall potential of food production and its exportable surplus declines due to the lack of processing facilities and poor post-harvesting techniques,” he said.

A pre-feasibility report has been approved to assess how production surpluses can be exported to major markets including China, the European Union and the Gulf countries, which together account for more than USD 50 billion. The project will connect farms, middlemen, stockholders, food suppliers and the processing industry through Punjab’s exportable potential.

The development of private-sector grain silos has been approved as another key project. With Punjab producing nearly 65% of Pakistan’s cereals, the spokesperson highlighted the scale of the opportunity: “This project will not only serve as a reserve pool of food in Punjab but also meet unforeseen needs, while acting as a supply source for the food processing industry.”

Food security has also been factored into another proposal for dedicated food storage facilities. The spokesperson pointed out that food storage and security are pressing challenges in many Gulf countries as well as Pakistan’s neighboring markets. The proposed projects are designed to offer solutions that not only meet Punjab’s needs but also position the province as a regional food supplier. The tourism sector is represented in the list through a proposal for hotels and resorts, including desert safari facilities in Bahawalpur. The spokesperson said the city already welcomes more than one million tourists every year through various revenue-generating activities, yet international-standard facilities remain limited.

The proposed project is expected to provide a multi-purpose hub that can accommodate different types of tourism, expand revenue streams and give Punjab an international profile in the hospitality sector. Human capital development has also been prioritized through a proposal for green skills training and microenterprise support. The skills technology and development sector in Punjab is expanding rapidly, and according to the spokesperson, “Punjab is the largest contributor to the export of human resources.” The approved project is expected to attract investment in the training and development field, enabling the province to produce a trained and certified workforce. Such a workforce will not only be competitive in global markets but also be utilized within Punjab to support upcoming projects and the relocation of industries.

The committee also approved the establishment of logistics hubs for warehousing. These hubs will serve as comprehensive storage banks for livestock, dairy products, cereals, meat, and emergency response. “This initiative will also attract investors to develop warehousing facilities in line with the CPEC projects, further strengthening the supply chain sector in Punjab,” the spokesperson added. Technology has been given special attention through the approval of a proposal for local assembly of IT equipment, including cell phones and computer hardware. The spokesperson pointed out that Punjab is already home to Pakistan’s leading mobile device assembly units. “Various Chinese companies like Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi/Redmi are already earning millions of rupees from Pakistan’s emerging technology market,” he said.

According to the spokesperson, the approved proposals have been chosen not only for their economic feasibility but also for their ability to create synergies across Punjab’s economy. By targeting key sectors such as agriculture, food processing, tourism, warehousing, skills development and technology, the projects are expected to generate investor interest, boost exports, and create employment. “The shortlisted projects reflect Punjab’s strengths in agriculture, tourism, technology and skills development. They will not only attract international investors but also strengthen domestic supply chains and create new job opportunities,” he emphasized.

Credit: INP-WealthPk