Pakistan native Imran Ejaz, 39, invested $25,000 in a venture in Donetsk, but after Russia started its war there in 2014, he lost all hope of getting his money back. The Kremlin still occupies the territory – and 7% of Ukraine – to this day.
Nevertheless, Ejaz remains optimistic about doing business in Ukraine and, moreover, does all he can to strengthen business ties between Ukraine and Pakistan.
Based in Lahore, the second-largest city in Pakistan where 11 million people live, Ejaz runs two projects – Ukraine House Pakistan and Voice of Ukrainian. Both are aimed at developing business, tourism, and communication between the two states.
“I assume, now my money and everything is on fire (in Donetsk),” Ejaz says. “But we need to boost relationships between the two governments. I want to help rebuild these relationships.”
Between Afghanistan and India, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the fifth most populous nation in the world with more than 200 million people, is currently focused mainly on trading with China. Ukraine and Pakistan have only few trade and diplomatic connections.
In 2019, the trade between states reached a paltry $143 million, according to State Statistics Service of Ukraine. To compare, Ukrainian trade with Turkey was 35 times higher.
Ejaz acknowledges the modest trade results and believes his projects can help to change the situation fundamentally. “That is my big wish,” he says.
“It is not only about government to government, it is also about nation to nation,” he adds.
New chapter in relations
Over the past six years, none of the top officials from Ukraine or Pakistan have exchanged visits. Ejaz thinks it’s because Pakistan is introverted and Ukraine is too focused on Europe.
“No foreign ministers, no prime ministers from Pakistan visited Ukraine… Ukraine is focused on Europe,” says Ejaz.
Meanwhile, unlike Indian diplomats arranging business events, seminars not only in Ukraine but in many other countries, Pakistanis usually only celebrate few major holidays every year like Independence Day, Defense Day and New Year’s Day.
“They are just doing small events within their embassies. They are not going outside. That is the problem,” he says.
But as Ukraine chose its president in April 2019 and Pakistan did it in September 2018, new chapter in relations may open between the countries.
“Both countries got new faces and maybe they will encourage the bridge between Pakistan and Ukraine,” says Ejaz, who’s sure his Ukraine House Pakistan can bridge the two nations by providing necessary info and help run business.
Pakistanis in Ukraine
Currently, there is a small Pakistani community in Ukraine of around 300-400 people.
They are mostly based in Dnipro, Odesa, Kyiv, and Lviv.
But only Mohammad Zahoor, founder and owner of the ISTIL Group, the former publisher of the Kyiv Post, is viewed by Ejaz as the only Pakistani who runs a big business in Ukraine and creates a positive image of the country.
“I don’t know any other Pakistani who has a very good reputation,” Ejaz says. “That is a big problem.”
On the other hand, Pakistan can give Ukraine a thick contract to redevelop a steel factory in Pakistani’s southern city of Karachi, which is currently on auction.
“Two countries are participating – Russia and Ukraine,” Ejaz says. “But to give this contract to Ukraine, we need good relationships.”
Ejaz claims it’s very easy to start own business in Pakistan. Within one day, one can get registration documents, and within one week – an office, and start operating. That’s why many multinational companies already have Pakistani offices, they are doing the registration and getting five-year work visas.
“Any businessman from Ukraine, who want to work or develop, extend the business around the world or Asia, should come to Pakistan,” he says. “It’s very easy.”
More Pakistani students
While neighboring with Pakistan India has the largest number of international students in Ukraine – around 15,000 – Pakistan is not even among top 10 countries by the number of foreign students here.
“The number of students from Pakistan is very low. Only a couple hundred is studying in Ukraine,” Ejaz says. He believes that the problem lays in complicated visa regime between the two countries.
“Many students from Pakistan want to study in Ukraine, but unlike Indians who have visa-free regime, Pakistanis don’t.”
As Ukraine has visa-free regime with 128 countries, its passport was ranked 43 in 2020 list of world’s most powerful passports, according to Henley Passport Index. Pakistan is still viewed as dangerous and was ranked 104, having only 32 countries with visa-free regime.
In addition, Ukrainian universities don’t have representatives in Pakistan. Ejaz wants his Ukraine House Pakistan, with 10 people working in it, 5 from Pakistani side and 5 from Ukraine, to become a trustful link between Pakistani and Ukrainian universities so that universities send invitations and info about potential students, and Ejaz and his team check and approve them — or disapprove.
“Maybe this is not a student and he wants to get a visa to Ukraine just for crossing the border illegally,” he said. “I will not recommend this person in this case.”
Increasing tourism
While Pakistan has been ranked as the best holiday destination for 2020 by popular U.S. travel magazine Condé Nast Traveller, and was placed in the top 25% of global destinations for its World Heritage sites.
Pakistan, however, is still not a hotspot for Ukrainian tourists.
Ejaz believes his country is still viewed as dangerous area as suicide bombing – often claimed by the Taliban, Sunni Islamic fundamentalist political movement and military organization, to be its responsibility – is not something outstanding in Pakistan.
But the Pakistani claims his government is trying to take the situation under control and encourages tourists to come: “The Pakistani army is well equipped and trying to avoid attacks as much as it possible. Now, Pakistan is very safe,” he says.
Ukrainian House Pakistan can play a major role in informing about Pakistan. “Maybe some people still think that Pakistan and Afghanistan is the same country,” Ejaz says. “We have big mountains, and many skydivers can come to Pakistan.”
Voice of Ukrainian
Ejaz started Voice of Ukrainian as a Facebook group, which already has over 1,000 followers, as he wanted to connect Ukrainian community around the world and to inform about Russia’s war in Ukraine. Now, it is also an online media.
Ejaz posts in this group latest news about Ukraine so the Ukrainian community, for example, in Africa or other parts of the world would know more about the country.
“People from other countries around the world don’t understand what exactly is happening in Ukraine,” the Pakistani says.
Now, he plans to use this platform for the business community.
“If Ukrainians in Canada or South Africa… if they are looking for good connections around the world community… I can introduce them to Ukrainian communities or help start business here.”
