ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed the expansion of the popular Saudi Arabian fast-food chain Al Baik in Pakistan.
“Saudi investments are growing. Agreements between the two nations have now exceeded $6 billion. Al Baik is on its way to Pakistan, and Aramco has opened its first fuel station here,” Minister informed reporters in Lahore.
Highlighting Pakistan’s improving global economic standing, the minister noted that several allied countries are now looking to expand their investments in the country.
He further disclosed that Qatar intends to invest $3 billion, while Azerbaijan plans to contribute $2 billion. Additionally, Pakistan recently signed a port development agreement with Abu Dhabi officials.
“Foreign reserves now stand at $11 billion, and remittances have reached $8 billion. This will open up significant job opportunities,” Tarar noted, emphasizing the positive impact of remittances on the national economy.
He praised the efforts of Pakistanis living abroad, saying that their presence around the world helps increase the country’s foreign exchange through large money transfers.
Recently, Saudi Arabia’s Al Baik Food System Company made an important deal with Pakistan’s Gas and Oil Pakistan Ltd (GO) to open and manage outlets across Pakistan. This is a big step in the food chain’s plan to grow in the country.
The signing ceremony was held with the support of Saudi Minister of Investment Engineer Khalid Al-Falih and attended by senior representatives from both Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Founded in 1974 in Jeddah, Al Baik has gained widespread recognition for its signature broast chicken.
With over 120 outlets across Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and other regions, the chain has built a loyal following, particularly among Pakistani expatriates and visitors to the Kingdom for business or religious reasons.
GO, a big company in Pakistan’s oil and gas industry, has a 40% investment from Saudi Aramco. This makes GO an important partner in helping Al Baik expand across Pakistan.
