Competing with giants: How Pakistan can carve its role in Africa

The PML-N government is taking concrete measures to increase Pakistan’s economic and strategic ties with Africa. Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, on the floor of the Senate on 22 May 2025, hailed Africa as the “continent of the future” and announced governmental policy of increasing investment through public-private partnership and focusing on agriculture, infrastructure, mining, fintech and healthcare as priority sectors for deeper economic engagement with Africa. He apprised the Senate of gigantic steps that have already been taken by the PML-N government in Pakistan’s ministries of foreign affairs and commerce. He informed the House about the opening of five new embassies in Africa under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership, along with extensive diplomatic engagements overseen directly by him as foreign minister. He added that under the PML-N government’s “Engage Africa Policy,” the focus is on strengthening diplomatic, economic, security, cultural, and educational ties with African governments and their people.

Pakistan’s biggest economic challenge is to increase exports at least three times the current level. The world average of the exports-to-GDP ratio of a country is almost 30 per cent. Pakistan has this ratio trailing at 10 per cent — one-third of the world average. With Pakistan’s GDP at $411 billion, exports should ideally be around $123 billion, yet they currently stand at only $32 billion. To bridge this gap, strategies must be implemented to achieve a three- to four-fold increase in exports. Among other measures, expanding into new markets is essential.

Security cooperation can be Pakistan’s strongest entry point into African markets, provided it is backed by robust diplomatic support.

In order to capture a new market, it is important to be competitive in quality and prices. The world-class standards can only be obtained through research and development (R&D) by our industries, research organisations and universities. Globally, the corporate sector allocates an average of 4% of its budget to R&D, often in collaboration with research institutions and universities. In Pakistan, this investment is negligible, which significantly undermines our competitiveness in international markets. Our exports rely heavily on original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) producing for multinational brands, while local brands lag behind. For Pakistan to compete globally, domestic companies must invest in R&D to meet international standards and obtain relevant certifications.

Africa tops the list of untapped international markets with huge potential. It is heartening to see that the government is now shifting its focus to this untapped continent. Pakistan must intensify efforts to establish a strong foothold in African markets through deeper engagement and strategic influence. As Africa rises, it should do so in partnership with Pakistan — through strengthened political and diplomatic relations, expanded trade and investment, enhanced manufacturing and services, security and defence cooperation, and robust cultural and educational exchanges. Achieving this vision requires comprehensive, long-term strategies that engage both the public and private sectors.

According to the African Development Bank Group’s current macroeconomic performance and outlook (MEO) report, Africa’s population will double in the next 25 years to 2.5 billion, with a corresponding increase in GDP to $35 trillion. The MEO report acknowledges that the middle class is getting stronger with better purchasing power to afford a wider range of products and services.

Pakistan already enjoys considerable goodwill in many West African countries, thanks to its effective participation in UN peacekeeping missions during periods of conflict and civil unrest. As these nations now move toward economic growth, this existing respect gives Pakistan a valuable head start.

While the government has already begun taking important steps in this direction, Pakistan must adopt a multi-pronged approach: elevating Africa as a key foreign policy priority, expanding trade and cooperation across both public and private sectors, and, most importantly, positioning itself to compete effectively with major players such as the EU, USA, China, Russia, India, and Turkey. Pakistan must identify and leverage its unique strengths to gain a foothold in African markets. Competing nations each bring distinct advantages, be it in commerce, manufacturing, services, cultural exchange, education, or security cooperation. These core strengths often serve as entry points, driving influence in other sectors as well. Pakistan needs to adopt a similar strategic approach, building on its competitive edge to create lasting partnerships across the continent.

Based on my time spent in Africa, I am convinced that security cooperation can be Pakistan’s strongest entry point into African markets, provided it is backed by robust diplomatic support. To build enduring Pakistan-Africa relations, we must also enhance our soft power through initiatives such as humanitarian aid, education, information technology, cultural exchange, business councils, direct flights to key African capitals, construction of mosques and schools, and the provision of scholarships and higher education opportunities. The Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) can play a pivotal role in advancing these ties and fostering long-term engagement between Pakistan and Africa.

Providing military training to African governments is another key strength Pakistan should actively pursue. Defence agreements involving the sale of arms, ammunition, aircraft, and other equipment offer additional opportunities. In this domain, Pakistan has the potential to serve as a viable alternative to traditional powers such as the West, China, Russia, India, and Turkey. To realise this potential, Pakistan must position itself as a major security player in Africa. As the global security landscape evolves — with Western powers like the USA, UK, and France stepping back and Eastern nations such as China, Russia, Turkey, and India stepping in — Pakistan must assert its place in this shifting order.

Pakistan currently has around 20 diplomatic missions in Africa, with five more recently announced. However, given the immense potential of the continent, this footprint remains insufficient. For comparison, Turkey had only 12 diplomatic missions in Africa two decades ago; today, that number has grown to 46, nearly one in every African country. Similar expansion strategies by China and India have enabled them to secure significant shares of the African market. To remain competitive and strengthen its presence, Pakistan must at least double its diplomatic missions in Africa to 40.

In today’s evolving world order, geopolitics is driven largely by economic and security interests. Pakistan must adopt a pragmatic approach and focus strategically on all five regions of Africa — West, North, East, Central, and Southern Africa. The initiative should begin with West Africa, where competition from India, China, and Turkey is relatively limited, as their presence is more dominant in Eastern and Southern Africa. Pakistan already enjoys considerable goodwill in many West African countries, thanks to its effective participation in UN peacekeeping missions during periods of conflict and civil unrest. As these nations now move toward economic growth, this existing respect gives Pakistan a valuable head start.

As an old Jordanian saying goes, “Think big, start small, start now.” Let Pakistan start now.

The writer has a diverse career as a medical doctor, writer, and businessman across multiple countries, with a special interest in research and narrative building.