OTTAWA: A high-level Pakistani delegation led by Additional Secretary of the Board of Investment (BoI) Zulfiqar Ali is currently in Ottawa to hold negotiations with Canadian officials on the proposed Pakistan-Canada Foreign Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (FIPPA), also known as the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT).
The Pakistani delegation comprises senior officials from departments responsible for trade, investment and economic affairs.
The negotiations aim to advance efforts towards establishing a comprehensive investment framework that would strengthen economic ties and facilitate greater investment flows between the two countries.
At the opening session, Director General of the South Asia Bureau at Global Affairs Canada, Jean Christian Brillant, welcomed the Pakistani delegation and expressed hope for productive and constructive discussions.
Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Canada, Muhammad Saleem, reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to concluding a high-quality investment agreement that promotes investor confidence and supports long-term economic cooperation.
He highlighted that the Government of Pakistan has undertaken a range of reforms to improve the ease of doing business, including measures aimed at strengthening investor protection, enhancing transparency in dispute prevention mechanisms, and ensuring greater regulatory coherence.
The High Commissioner noted that these initiatives form an integral part of Pakistan’s broader economic reform agenda designed to attract foreign investment and create a more business-friendly environment.
The Pakistani delegation is expected to engage constructively with Canadian counterparts during the talks to further expand bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation.
The previous round of negotiations on the proposed FIPPA/BIT was held in Islamabad in October 2025.
