KARACHI: Pakistani home appliances giant Pak Elektron Limited (PEL) plans to increase its exports to $100 million by the end of 2026, a senior official of the company said on Wednesday, days after announcing it had begun its export operations to the United States. 

The Lahore-based manufacturer of home appliances has been one of the most-traded scrips at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) so far this week. It had the second-most traded stock on Wednesday, registering a 3.2 percent gain and over 36 million volumes.

On Monday the company announced it has expanded its global footprint and will be now exporting its products to the US. PEL’s new American client is Maddox Industrial Transformer LLC, which supplies new and remanufactured power transformers to commercial and industrial clients in the US.

“We are exporting distribution transformers for now and the majority of our exports, say 90 percent, are going to the US,” Nadeem Asghar, the general manager of finance at PEL, told Arab News. 

PEL plans to increase its exports up to $50 million this year by December and double the same to $100 million by the end of 2026, Asghar said. 

The company’s current exports stand at $3 million, with most of its shipments going to the United Kingdom, Jordan and African countries. 

PEL’s stock price appears to have increased steadily in recent days. Its recent announcement of beginning export operations to the US has contributed to a notable increase in its stock price, Sana Tawfik, the head of research at the Karachi-based brokerage firm Arif Habib Ltd., said.

“The stock price has witnessed a gain of 13 percent in the last three days,” Tawfik told Arab News.

The company has already sent its first consignment of distribution transformers to the US on Mar. 13 as part of its business expansion strategy to explore new international markets.

Asghar, meanwhile, said this is the first time that PEL has received a “major order” from the US.

“The majority of our products will be exported to America now,” he said, adding that PEL would keep increasing its exports even beyond $100 million after 2026 as “sky is the limit.”

PEL entered into a strategic partnership last month with Swedish giant Electrolux AB, a global leader in multi-category home appliances brands such as Electrolux, AEG and Frigidaire, to leverage its strength to drive sustainable growth.

In 2024 Electrolux Group had sales of Swedish Krona 136 billion and the company employed 41,000 people worldwide. 

After tapping the US market, Asghar said the Pakistani company plans to expand its reach to the Middle East as well, particularly Saudi Arabia. 

“We would look to tap the Saudi Arabian market where we see enough demand for our products,” Asghar said, adding that talks with the company’s potential clients from Saudi Arabia were underway. He did not mention their names. 

“We will tap all these markets, the UK, Saudi Arabia and others. Our negotiations are ongoing with the Saudi Arabian clients,” Asghar added. 

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has repeatedly said his government is prioritizing exports to ensure sustainable economic growth for the country’s fragile $350 billion economy. Sharif has recently said his government aims to increase Pakistan’s exports to $60 billion in five years. 

Pakistan is trying to stabilize its economy through sustainable reforms agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in exchange for a financial bailout program. 

PESHAWAR: The provincial administration of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) said on Wednesday it has prepared a strategy to roll out a universal digital payment system, making it the first province in Pakistan to introduce a cashless economy for business and financial transactions.
The “Cashless Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” initiative aims to modernize financial transactions by requiring all public and private payments, including small and large-scale business transactions, to be conducted digitally.
The strategy includes a phased implementation plan, with various government departments, institutions and district administrations assigned specific responsibilities under defined timelines.
The system, developed in partnership with mobile wallet service providers, will also work offline to ensure accessibility in remote areas.
“The province has decided to launch a universal digital payment system for all types of transactions and business payments,” the KP government said in a statement, adding that a detailed implementation strategy had been finalized.
The system will require all businesses — small and large — as well as private and government transactions to shift to digital payments.
As part of the initiative, the government will collect data on all commercial entities, including small shops, stalls and street vendors at the village council level, ensuring that they are integrated into the new digital framework.
The statement said Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has issued directives for the immediate implementation of the system and instructed the Chief Secretary’s Office to oversee compliance.
“KP will be the first province in Pakistan to introduce a cashless system,” Gandapur said. “This initiative will help promote the digital economy, enhance financial transparency and eliminate fraud and corruption.”
Under the Cashless Khyber Pakhtunkhwa program, all businesses, public transport services and commercial establishments will be required to display QR codes for digital payments. A strong regulatory framework will be enforced to ensure effective implementation.
The KP administration has also planned public awareness campaigns, training programs and support services to help businesses and citizens transition to the new system.
Gandapur said the digital payment system will not only promote fintech solutions and improve economic security but also facilitate better tax collection and create a business-friendly environment in the province.
“The introduction of a digital payment system will encourage private investment and align KP with international digital financial standards,” he added.