Pakistan Consulate General Houston

🔊PR No.1️⃣3️⃣6️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar Meets U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor in Washington D.C.,on 29 May 2026

🔗⬇️

Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar arrived in Washington, D.C. on an official visit.

Upon his arrival, he was received by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, along with senior officials of the Embassy of Pakistan.

During the visit, DPM/FM will meet with U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio to discuss matters of bilateral and regional significance.

Following the conclusion of his official engagements, he will return to Islamabad later the same day.

The Consulate General of Pakistan, Houston continued its facilitation of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) with the supervision of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) delegation’s Houston trade mission on 12 May 2026, with a practical focus on market intelligence, importer engagement, retail positioning, and commercial follow-up.

The delegation visited Famous Foods Inc., where participants received a detailed briefing on the U.S. rice-market structure, distribution channels, consumer preferences, packaging and SKU requirements, and retail trends across South Asian, Halal, ethnic, and mainstream food segments.

A guided retail-market survey was also arranged to assess the shelf presence of Pakistani, Indian, Thai, and U.S. rice brands. The delegation reviewed packaging, pricing, product placement, branding, and consumer positioning. This exercise was important because the U.S. rice market is not won by quality alone; visibility, consistency, retailer confidence, and brand discipline matter equally.

The delegation also held a focused B2B lunch with prominent U.S. rice importers in Houston. Discussions covered import opportunities, logistics, regulatory considerations, and strategies to promote Pakistani basmati rice in U.S. retail and foodservice channels.

The delegation further visited the office of a Pakistani-origin entrepreneur preparing to launch Papa Mart Halal Food Stores in Houston. The meeting explored supply-chain requirements and opportunities for Pakistani rice brands to enter the chain’s launch SKU set.

The day concluded with a reception hosted by the Consulate General of Pakistan, Houston, in collaboration with Famous Foods Inc. and the Pakistan Business Forum, bringing together restaurateurs, importers, distributors, and Pakistani-American business leaders to strengthen Pakistan-U.S. rice trade linkages.

The visit reaffirmed that Pakistani rice has a viable growth opportunity in the United States, but the opportunity requires organized market entry, importer trust, compliance readiness, and continuous follow-up.

The Consulate General of Pakistan, Houston facilitated the first full working day of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) under the supervision of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) delegation’s trade visit to Houston on 11 May 2026.

The day included a focused U.S. market-entry briefing by Mr. Adnan Hassan, CEO of RACS, covering retail access, compliance, certification, packaging standards, and supply-chain expectations of major U.S. retailers.

The delegation also held a productive meeting with Zenat Distribution to discuss U.S. ethnic and Halal food distribution channels, importer expectations, pricing structures, and opportunities for expanding Pakistani rice in the American market.

A key component of the day was the delegation’s visit to USDA-APHIS, where officials briefed Pakistani exporters on import inspection procedures, phytosanitary requirements, quarantine rules, and clearance mechanisms for agricultural consignments.

The Consulate General of Pakistan, Houston, in collaboration with the Pakistan Chamber of Commerce USA, also organized a B2B networking session connecting Pakistani rice exporters with importers, distributors, wholesalers, and food business leaders from different U.S. states. The session generated serious commercial interest, including initial buyer commitments for Pakistani basmati rice.

The day concluded with a market-focused podcast discussion involving REAP leadership and U.S.-based importers, highlighting the quality, branding potential, and growth prospects of Pakistani basmati rice in the U.S. market.

Pakistan’s premium basmati rice has strong potential in the United States. The opportunity now depends on stronger branding, consistent quality, reliable supply, better packaging, and sustained importer engagement.

On the occasion of 1st Commemoration of Marka-e-Haq, the Consul General joins 🇵🇰🇺🇸 community in Austin to celebrate the victory displaying national spirit, solidarity & unity.

In Dallas, the Consul General and the community leaders pay rich tribute to civil & military leadership and the rank and file of armed forces in an event organized to celebrate 1st Commemoration of Marka-e-Haq.