APC: Africa – Pakistan – China

By Dr M Ali Hamza

By any measure, Africa is impossible to ignore. Home to more than 1.5 billion people, having vast natural resources, and poised to become one of the defining economic centres of the twenty-first century. The continent has steadily emerged as a global growth engine. Yet for decades, much of South Asia, including Pakistan, remained focused on traditional partners, leaving Africa largely at the margins of foreign policy and economic planning.

For much of its history, Pakistan’s relationship with Africa rested on political solidarity rather than commercial engagement. That is precisely why the Engage Africa Policy deserves attention, not simply as a diplomatic initiative, but as a strategic blueprint for Pakistan’s future.

Pakistan and African states share a history shaped by colonialism, resistance, and the pursuit of self-determination. During Africa’s independence movements, Pakistan consistently supported decolonisation, opposed apartheid, and backed liberation struggles in countries such as Algeria, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. At the United Nations and other international forums, Pakistan frequently aligned itself with African aspirations, helping establish a foundation of goodwill that continues to influence relations today.

This solidarity extended beyond diplomacy. Pakistan has contributed more than 200,000 troops to 46 United Nations peacekeeping missions, most of them in Africa, where Pakistani peacekeepers have supported stability and local communities during periods of conflict. Educational cooperation has also strengthened these ties. Pakistan’s Foreign Service Academy has trained more than 775 African diplomats, around 500 African students have pursued higher education in Pakistan through scholarship programmes, and over 4,300 African military personnel have received professional training in Pakistani institutions. Such exchanges have built lasting networks of trust that formal agreements alone cannot create.

Despite these historical connections, economic engagement remained limited. Distance, weak transport links, limited diplomatic representation, and inadequate commercial infrastructure constrained trade, while businesses on both sides lacked awareness of emerging opportunities. Meanwhile, countries such as China, Türkiye, European states, and Gulf economies significantly expanded their presence across Africa through investment, trade, and infrastructure development.

Recognising the cost of remaining absent from this transformation, Pakistan launched the Engage Africa Policy to diversify its foreign relations and strengthen economic partnerships with one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer markets.

Since the launch of Engage Africa Policy in 2019, Pakistan has expanded its diplomatic footprint by opening missions in Rwanda, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, Djibouti, and Ghana, bringing its total missions in Africa to twenty two. Trade promotion has also intensified through Pakistan-Africa Trade Development Conferences, business forums, and sector-specific exhibitions. These efforts have produced tangible results. Bilateral trade has increased from approximately US$3 billion in 2019 to more than US$7 billion in recent years. Pakistan’s exports—including textiles, pharmaceuticals, rice, surgical instruments, sports goods, agricultural products, and IT services—have found expanding markets across the continent.

These figures represent more than commercial growth; they reflect a shift in strategic thinking. Pakistan can no longer depend on a narrow range of export destinations. Africa’s expanding middle class, rapid urbanisation, youthful population, and rising consumer demand present opportunities that align well with Pakistan’s industrial strengths. The challenge now is sustaining long-term engagement through stronger institutions, business partnerships, and connectivity.

This objective complements Pakistan’s broader geoeconomic vision. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), through investments in infrastructure, transport, and energy, seeks to transform Pakistan into a regional connector. Within this framework, Gwadar Port occupies a strategically important position near the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly one-fifth of global oil trade passes. Gwadar has the potential to serve as a gateway linking South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Viewed in this context, CPEC and the Engage Africa Policy reinforce one another: one provides the infrastructure, the other expands the partnerships.

China’s engagement with Africa further illustrates the continent’s growing significance. Chinese trade with Africa exceeded US$295 billion in 2024, reflecting Africa’s expanding role in global supply chains and investment networks. Pakistan can benefit by integrating its own engagement with these broader regional dynamics, creating opportunities for complementary and trilateral cooperation.

Among Africa’s 54 countries, Tunisia deserves particular attention. Although geographically distant, Tunisia occupies a strategic position at the crossroads of North Africa, Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Arab world. Located only about 140 kilometres from Italy, it provides access to European markets while maintaining deep connections across Africa.

Recent disruptions in the Red Sea and growing uncertainty surrounding maritime security have highlighted the vulnerability of global supply chains. While no country can replace established routes such as the Suez Canal, diversified logistics networks are becoming increasingly important. In this context, Tunisia’s Mediterranean connectivity and Pakistan’s Gwadar Port and CPEC infrastructure can be viewed as complementary nodes supporting greater trade resilience and regional integration.

Ultimately, the Engage Africa Policy is about far more than trade statistics or diplomatic expansion. It reflects a recognition that global economic geography is changing. Africa is already reshaping international trade, demographics, and diplomacy, and Pakistan’s deeper engagement is neither symbolic nor charitable. It is a pragmatic response to emerging realities.

The real challenge lies in maintaining momentum. Policies must outlast political transitions, businesses require sustained institutional support, connectivity projects must generate commercial outcomes, and educational and cultural exchanges should continue reinforcing economic diplomacy.

History has provided Pakistan and Africa with a foundation built on solidarity. The future now demands something more enduring: a partnership grounded in shared prosperity. Distance, after all, is not measured in kilometres but in sustained engagement. Pakistan has begun building those bridges. The task ahead is to keep crossing them.