Pakistan envoy Ashar Shahzad courts investors for Northern Uganda

1 September 2026, 5:55 pm

By Frank Oyugi

LIRA CITY — The High Commissioner of Pakistan to Uganda, H.E. Ashar Shahzad, has pledged to pitch Northern Uganda’s investment potential directly to businessmen, industrialists, and investors back home to boost trade and regional transformation.

Speaking in Lira City during Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day anniversary celebrations at the Shower Trade Hotel, Ambassador Shahzad expressed strong admiration for the region’s growing economy and called for expanded bilateral trade between both nations.

“It gives me great encouragement to see Pakistani community members and local Ugandan officials working together to promote bilateral relationships, especially in trade and commerce,” Ambassador Shahzad said. “I have heard glowing accounts of how our diaspora supports the local economy by establishing industries, expanding trade, and contributing to regional prosperity.”

The envoy committed to serving as an economic ambassador for Lira and the broader Northern region.

“I will be very pleased to connect and disseminate information regarding this region to Pakistani businessmen, investors, and industrialists so they can come and invest here,” H.E. Ashar Shahzad assured. “We deeply appreciate Uganda’s openness to foreign investment and its vision for African economic growth.”

Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Lawrence Emmy Egole welcomed Ambassador Shahzad to Lira City, highlighting the significance of Northern Uganda hosting one of the envoy’s earliest official regional visits. Egole praised the local Pakistani diaspora for maintaining discipline, fostering harmony, and driving charitable initiatives across the Lango sub-region over his six-year tenure.

Over 300 Blood Units Collected for Lira Referral Hospital

Alongside the diplomatic reception, the Pakistani Association in Lira, in partnership with the Uganda Blood Bank, spearheaded a major civic intervention at GB Restaurant that yielded over 300 units of blood for Lira Regional Referral Hospital.

Hellen Grace Anyoda, speaking on behalf of the regional blood bank, emphasized that the timely drive provided crucial relief during school holidays—a period when student donations drop and hospital stocks run dangerously low. She noted that the hospital requires over 1,000 units monthly to manage severe malaria cases, maternal emergencies, and sickle cell crises.

“What we have collected here in just one day would normally take up to two weeks or a full month to gather from general community drives,” Anyoda explained, thanking the diaspora for filling the seasonal shortage.

Hon. Sam Engola, the Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Refugees, commended the humanitarian spirit of the donation, stressing that voluntary blood contributions directly save the lives of mothers, children, and accident victims in Lango.

Muhammad Ateeq Nawaz, President of the Pakistani Association in Lira, expressed gratitude to the local population for turning up in large numbers, describing the effort as a symbol of deep, enduring community solidarity.