Beverage Industry has Potential to Drive Broader Economic Growth, says Dr. Faisal Hashmi at The Leaders in Islamabad Business Summit 2026

WNAM REPORT: The Leaders in Islamabad Business Summit 2026, held in the federal capital, brought together top corporate leaders, policymakers, and economic experts to deliberate on strategies for sustainable economic stabilization and industrial growth.
Echoing calls for structural reform, Dr. Faisal Hashmi, Senior Director The Coca-Cola Company and Chairman of the Beverages Advisory Foundation, in his address during the opening session acknowledged recent government policy interventions.
Dr. Hashmi noted, ” We have seen a few reliefs from the government, and we are thankful for these great efforts. We have been working with other industries to support the stabilization of the economy.” Emphasizing the private sector’s scale of long-term commitment, he added that ” the beverage industry alone has invested around $3 billion over recent years.”
Elaborating further on the sector’s potential, Dr. Hashmi later noted that the vast, untapped growth capacity of Pakistan’s beverage industry as a key contributor to the broader economic recovery. He stressed that provided a level playing field and an equitable, business-friendly tax regime are established, the sector can expand its economic footprint significantly through transparent tax compliance, high-quality production standards, and large-scale livelihood creation across its extensive supply chain.
“By establishing a predictable, stable, and transparent regulatory landscape, global investors will view Pakistan’s high-density market far more favorably, opening doors to much-needed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Strengthened FDI and sustainable growth in the beverage sector will, in turn, enable industry leaders to reinvest meaningfully into local communities through social impact initiatives, environmental stewardship programs, and youth development, ensuring economic growth translates into lasting community progress,” he added.
Dr. Hashmi advocated for a balanced fiscal policy that incentivizes compliant, formal market players while bringing the large informal sector under regulatory oversight and the tax net. Documenting and regulating informal operators, he noted, would not only widen the national tax base and safeguard consumer health through standardized quality controls, but also send a strong, positive signal to global markets and investors.