Punjab OICAC 2026: New International Cooperation Office to Bring Foreign Investment

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has given her adviser Ali Dar the international cooperation portfolio and set up a new OICAC Punjab office to bring in foreign investment. The step was announced on 6 November 2026, and the government has already issued a notification about his added duties. The move creates a single office for Punjab’s work with foreign investors and trade partners.

What Is OICAC and Why Was It Set Up?

• New office: The Office of International Coordination and Cooperation (OICAC) is a new Punjab government office set up on the Chief Minister’s orders, and it will be the province’s main contact for foreign investment and international partnerships.

• Single window: OICAC will create a clear and joined-up system to attract investors, so foreign partners deal with one office instead of many departments.
• Notification issued: The government has already issued a notification about Ali Dar’s added duties, so the office is formally in place.
• Chief Minister’s order: The office was set up on the direct orders of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
• Global ties: The step aims to bring in foreign investment and build global ties for Punjab.

Who Is Ali Dar?

• Office head: Ali Dar leads the new office.
• Joined government: He joined the Punjab government on 9 February 2026 as Adviser on Artificial Intelligence and Special Initiatives, with the status and powers of a provincial minister.

• Family: He is the eldest son of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and is married to Asma Nawaz Sharif, daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
• Education: He studied at Aitchison College in Lahore, then moved to Britain and studied at University College London and the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology.
• Degree: He earned a software engineering degree in Britain before returning to work in business.
• Business background: Before joining the government, he founded the UAE-based HDS Group of Companies, which works in real estate, and led it as chief executive until 2024.

What Will OICAC Do?

• Dar’s promise: In an interview, Ali Dar said the new office will help find new economic partnerships and turn international deals into real projects.

• Find partnerships: The office will help find new economic partnerships for Punjab with foreign investors.
• Investment plans: Together with PBIT, OICAC will work on investment plans and trade chances for the province.
• Department teamwork: OICAC will improve teamwork between government departments so that international deals move forward without delay.
• Turn deals into projects: The office will work to turn signed international deals into real projects on the ground.

PBIT and OICAC: How They Will Work Together

• Linked bodies: The Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT) has been linked with OICAC, and the two bodies will work together on investment plans, trade chances and partnerships with foreign institutions.

• Linked bodies: PBIT has been formally linked with the new office so the two work as one team.
• Shared work: Both bodies will prepare investment plans and explore trade chances with foreign partners.
• Foreign institutions: They will build partnerships with foreign institutions that can bring investment, technology and jobs to Punjab.
• Clear roles: OICAC will coordinate across departments, while PBIT brings its existing work on investment promotion and trade.

What Foreign Investment Could Mean for Punjab

• Expected benefit: Ali Dar said more foreign investment will help create business activity, jobs and growth across the province.

• Jobs: New investment can create jobs for young people across Punjab’s cities and districts.
• Business activity: Foreign companies setting up in Punjab can raise business activity for local suppliers and workers.
• Growth: Investment in industry, technology and services can support wider economic growth.
• Realistic note: The benefits will depend on whether announced deals turn into signed agreements and working projects, which takes time.

What Happens Next?

• Formal status: The notification for Ali Dar’s added duties has been issued, and OICAC is now formally in place with PBIT linked to it.

• Office setup: OICAC will now organise its staff, working methods and coordination links with departments.
• Investor outreach: The office is expected to reach out to foreign investors with Punjab’s investment plans.
• Project pipeline: Investment plans and trade chances prepared with PBIT will need to turn into concrete proposals.
• What to watch: Readers should watch for signed deals and project starts, which are the real test of the new office.

Conclusion

Punjab has set up the Office of International Coordination and Cooperation, given Ali Dar the international cooperation portfolio, and linked the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade to the new office. The aim is a single, clear system to attract foreign investment and turn international deals into real projects. Its success will be judged by signed agreements, new investment and jobs on the ground.

FAQs

What is OICAC in Punjab? OICAC is the Office of International Coordination and Cooperation, a new Punjab government office for foreign investment, trade and partnerships abroad.

Who leads OICAC? Ali Dar leads the office as Adviser to the Chief Minister on Artificial Intelligence, International Cooperation and Special Initiatives.

What is the link between OICAC and PBIT? The Punjab Board of Investment and Trade has been linked with OICAC, and the two bodies will work together on investment plans, trade chances and foreign partnerships.

When was OICAC announced? They were announced on 6 November 2026, and the government has already issued a notification about his added duties.