Five-day exhibition to bring around 100 Pakistani exhibitors; organisers plan to showcase Bangladeshi products in Karachi
DHAKA, November 2: A five-day-long Pakistani Fashion Show, Wedding and Food Festival will begin in Dhaka on November 4, bringing around hundred Pakistani exhibitors to Bangladesh to showcase textiles, fashion, bridal collections and food products while exploring business opportunities and strengthening bilateral trade ties.
Organised by Pakistan-based event management company Pakistan Lifestyle (PLS), the fifth edition of the exhibition will run until November 8 at Gulshan Shooting Club in Gulshan-1.
The event is expected to provide a platform for Pakistani businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to reach Bangladeshi consumers and explore opportunities to expand their presence in the local market.
Pakistan Lifestyle Owner and Chief Executive Officer Shagufta Bakht told The Shuttle Times that around hundred Pakistani exhibitors were expected to participate, including five textile manufacturers, with the remaining participants comprising SMEs and fashion designers.
The exhibition will feature Pakistani textile fabrics, fashion collections, bridal and wedding outfits, authentic cuisine and cultural activities, she said.
Bakht said the organisers had completed the necessary government paperwork and secured the required permissions to hold the events.
"The Pakistan High Commission has supported us closely in making the event successful," she said.
The Dhaka exhibition is part of a three-city programme aimed at promoting Pakistani products and developing commercial connections with Bangladeshi businesses and consumers.
Following the Dhaka event, the sixth edition will take place at Amanullah Convention Centre in Sylhet from November 11 to 15, while the seventh edition is scheduled for Khulshi Convention Centre in Chattogram from November 18 to 22.
Pakistan Lifestyle Co-Founder and Operational Manager Khalid Hussain said a significant number of SMEs would participate, providing businesses with opportunities to promote and sell their products directly to consumers while exploring potential partnerships.
Product categories will include women's clothing, Punjabi outfits, children's wear, Pakistani lawn fabrics and other fashion items.
Home textile products, including bedsheets, towels and linens, will also be displayed, Hussain said.
Pakistani food products, handicrafts and decorative items will be among the other attractions, with organisers expecting interest from consumers and businesses involved in the gifting and wedding markets.
The exhibitions will also facilitate business-to-business (B2B) meetings, enabling companies from both countries to identify potential partners, establish commercial links and explore opportunities in new markets, he added.
Alongside promoting Pakistani products in Bangladesh, PLS is also planning to organise an exhibition of Bangladeshi products in Karachi to create opportunities for bilateral trade.
Bakht said five Bangladeshi companies had already expressed interest in partnering in the proposed exhibition.
Pakistani businesses have shown particular interest in Bangladeshi traditional handloom products, including Jamdani sarees and lungis, as well as leather goods, she said.
She expressed optimism that such initiatives could help businesses from both countries identify new markets, develop commercial partnerships and explore investment opportunities.
"Pakistani people want to build business relationships with Bangladesh based on brotherhood," Bakht said, underscoring the importance of trust and meaningful commercial engagement.
The planned exhibitions come as businesses in Bangladesh and Pakistan seek to expand market access and diversify commercial partnerships.
While cultural and consumer-oriented exhibitions can create initial business contacts, their longer-term contribution to bilateral economic relations will depend on whether those connections lead to sustained trade, investment and regular business-to-business cooperation.
