Quebec and Pakistan can turn post-COVID momentum into durable partnerships -linking aerospace, AI, critical minerals, ports, agri-food and higher education – so both economies create jobs, diversify markets, de-risk supply chains and scale innovation with clear policy scaffolding.
Key points
- Real, province-level traction: In 2024, Pakistan–Quebec goods trade reached US$129.9 million (Pakistan exports US$90.6 m, Quebec exports US$39.3 m)—a foundation to scale via targeted sectors. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan
- Gateway advantage: The Port of Montreal handled 35.41 million tonnes in 2024, confirming resilient capacity for South-Asia-bound containerized and bulk cargo despite a volatile year. Port of Montreal
- Quebec strengths that fit Pakistan’s demand: Aerospace manufacturing leadership, AI hubs (Mila) and a Critical & Strategic Minerals Plan align with Pakistan’s needs in aviation MRO/training, digital modernization and responsible minerals development. economie.gouv.qc.ca+2mila.quebec+2
- Near-term enablers: Provincial export services plus federal Halal/Kosher Investment support can accelerate Quebec agri-food brands into Pakistan and the wider Muslim consumer markets. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Why Quebec–Pakistan and why now?
Quebec is Canada’s aerospace capital, an AI powerhouse and a leading jurisdiction for critical minerals – all plugged into an ocean-going logistics platform via Montreal. Pakistan is a 240-million-population (the 5th largest in the world) market seeking reliable inputs (materials, food), modern infrastructure and digital upgrades. The 2024 province-specific numbers show meaningful activity already: Pakistan’s exports to Quebec hit US$90.6 m, while Quebec’s exports to Pakistan were US$39.3 m – a manageable base to grow through sector-specific plays and public–private partnerships. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan
On the logistics side, the Port of Montreal moved 35.41 million tonnes in 2024, underscoring capacity and resilience after a turbulent year for global shipping and local labor relations. For Pakistan-facing cargoes (textiles, leather, plastics, pulp, metals, machinery), dependable schedules and intermodal connectivity into the U.S. Midwest are a practical advantage that Quebec exporters and Pakistani importers can leverage. Port of Montreal
Aerospace & advanced manufacturing: training, MRO and supply chains
Quebec accounts for the vast majority of Canada’s aircraft exports and a dominant share of engines and parts, anchored by a dense Montreal cluster of OEMs, Tier-1s, and research centers. For Pakistan, this creates multiple lanes: pilot and technician training partnerships, MRO/vendor approvals and component sourcing from a quality-assured ecosystem. A provincial snapshot: in 2024, Quebec delivered C$22.8 b in aerospace sales and produced 93.4% of Canada’s aircraft exports – signals of scale and predictability for long-cycle procurement. economie.gouv.qc.ca
Investors can start with services-first entries (maintenance, avionics, interiors) tied to Pakistan’s fleet upgrades and civil aviation growth, while universities and related centers in Quebec co-design curricula, simulators and safety systems with Pakistani institutions. Over time, offset-like supplier development – light composites, cabin elements – could follow, with Montreal’s integrators mentoring Pakistani SMEs.
AI and digital modernization: Mila-anchored, problem-driven projects
Montreal’s AI ecosystem – Mila plus IVADO and a wide corporate partner base – offers applied AI for health, energy, ports/logistics and fintech. Rather than generic pilots, Quebec and Pakistan should pursue problem-driven consortia: e.g., port-call optimization in Karachi, energy-loss analytics for DISCOs, TB-diagnostic support in public hospitals or anti-fraud models for SME finance. Mila’s partnership model (applied projects, talent pipelines, training) provides an on-ramp for Pakistani ministries, SOEs and banks to co-develop and localize AI tools with Quebec teams. mila.quebec+1
Critical & strategic minerals: standards, processing, and services
Quebec’s Plan for the Development of Critical & Strategic Minerals seeks leadership in production, processing and recycling for copper, graphite, lithium, nickel, cobalt and more – exactly the materials underpinning energy transition and grid resilience. Pakistan, with its own mineral endowment, can partner with Quebec on standards-compliant exploration, ESG services and downstream processing know-how, including testing and recycling. An incremental approach; Quebec services and labs supporting Pakistan projects, then off-take or toll-processing linkages – spreads risk while building capacity on both sides. quebec.ca+1
Agri-food and halal: moving up the value chain
Quebec food producers – from dairy and specialty foods to maple and value-added protein – have room to expand in Pakistan’s urban retail and HORECA channels. The federal Kosher & Halal Investment Component (open through 2027) helps exporters upgrade certification and market access; taken together with local certifiers, this lowers first-shipment friction and provides consumer trust signals for Pakistani buyers. Co-packing with Pakistani partners can reduce landed prices and serve the wider Gulf/ASEAN halal markets via Pakistan’s trade corridors. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Education, health and science: durable people-to-people bridges
Quebec universities – McGill, Université de Montréal, Polytechnique, Laval, ETS, Concordia – already run robust global programs. For Pakistan, priority tracks include public health, biomedical imaging, water security, AI/CS and supply-chain/port management. Joint micro-credentials and co-op placements (Montreal↔Karachi/Lahore/Islamabad) translate classroom ties into commercial pilots. Quebec labs provide IP frameworks; Pakistani institutions bring scale and problem sets – a recipe for translational research and startups.
Data tables (post-COVID signal, practical next steps)
Table 1 — Quebec–Pakistan merchandise trade (latest available, 2024)
|
Flow |
Value (US$) |
Note |
|
Pakistan → Quebec (exports) |
90.59 million |
Apparel/textiles, leather goods, plastics, rice/spices commonly feature. |
|
Quebec → Pakistan (exports) |
39.28 million |
Machinery, paper/pulp, chemicals, parts and agri-inputs among typical lines. |
|
Two-way trade |
129.87 million |
Solid base to scale via sector-specific playbooks. |
Source: Pakistan–Quebec trade figures as reported by Pakistan’s Mission in Montreal for 2024. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan
Table 2 — Quebec strengths mapped to Pakistan demand (actionable lanes)
|
Quebec strength |
Pakistan demand |
Entry vehicle (low-risk first) |
|
Aerospace cluster (OEMs, MRO, training) |
Fleet upkeep, safety, airport systems |
Vendor approvals; technician training; interiors/avionics MRO packages. economie.gouv.qc.ca |
|
AI & data (Mila ecosystem) |
Grid efficiency, health diagnostics, port logistics, fintech risk |
Problem-driven pilots; talent exchanges; localized AI ops playbooks. mila.quebec+1 |
|
Critical minerals policy & labs |
Responsible mining, processing, ESG reporting |
Services MOUs; testing/recycling; offtake/toll-processing options. quebec.ca+1 |
|
Port of Montreal intermodal platform |
Timely, reliable shipments |
Fixed-day services; rail-to-US backhaul; container consolidation. Port of Montreal |
|
Agri-food brands & safety systems |
Halal-certified, quality-assured foods |
Use Halal/Kosher Investment funds; co-pack in Pakistan for price competitiveness. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada |
What each audience can do next
- Policymakers: Convene a Quebec–Pakistan Economic Roundtable (semi-annual) on aerospace, AI, minerals, ports and halal agri-food. Align customs/SPS protocols and academic mobility to shorten pilot-to-scale timelines. Use province-level trade data to set KPIs. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan
- Investors: Start with services-heavy, cap-light entries: MRO bundles, AI analytics contracts, ESG audits in mining and halal-certified food launches. Leverage Montreal’s logistics and Pakistan’s market scale for regional springboards. Port of Montreal+1
- Academics: Build micro-credential stacks (AI for energy/ports, public health analytics) with co-ops in both directions; tie outputs to licensable tools or stand-up ventures. mila.quebec
- General public & diaspora: Champion Quebec–Pakistan brands, internships, and trade missions; act as market sherpas connecting SMEs to trusted buyers.
Conclusion
Quebec–Pakistan collaboration is practical, investable and timely. Province-level trade already tops US$129 million, Montreal’s port has the capacity to move more cargo and Quebec’s aerospace, AI, minerals, and agri-food strengths match Pakistan’s modernization agenda. Start with services and training in aviation, problem-driven AI pilots, standards-first minerals partnerships and halal-readiness for food brands. Use university and diaspora bridges to de-risk early projects and institutionalize talent flows. With data-anchored KPIs and regular public -private dialogues, the corridor can quickly shift from pilot projects to bankable deals, creating quality jobs and resilient supply chains on the St. Lawrence–Indus axis. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan+2Port of Montreal+2
* Dr. Muhammad Jahanzaib is the Founder & Chief Visionary Officer (CVO) of Diamanium Thinkers, a global think tank. He holds a PhD in International Relations, specializing in the intersection of politics and economics in Pakistan’s foreign and domestic policy. A double gold medalist and published scholar, he writes on economic intelligence, economic diplomacy, political economy, AI and regional cooperation in South Asia and beyond. He can be reached at jahanzaibdgc@gmail.com.
Key references
- Quebec–Pakistan Relations (2024 trade figures) — https://mofa.gov.pk/montreal-quebec-pakistan-relations
- Port of Montreal: Benefits & 2024 traffic — https://www.port-montreal.com/en/benefits-and-traffic-2024
- Aerospace in Québec (Ministry sector profile, 2025) — https://www.economie.gouv.qc.ca/en/outside-quebec/excellence-sectors/aerospace
- Mila – Quebec AI Institute (partnership model) — https://mila.quebec/en
- Québec Plan for the Development of Critical & Strategic Minerals — https://www.quebec.ca/en/government/policies-orientations/quebec-plan-development-critical-strategic-minerals
- Critical & Strategic Minerals in Quebec (list) — https://www.quebec.ca/en/agriculture-environment-and-natural-resources/mining/minerals-mineral-substances/critical-and-strategic-minerals
- AAFC – Kosher & Halal Investment Component (export readiness) — https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/programs/agrimarketing-kosher-halal-investment/step-3-before-apply