Chinese billionaire Jack Ma's surprise visit to Pakistan has created a stir among observers, according to the Express Tribune newspaper.
Former Chairman of the Board of Investment (BOI), Muhammad Azfar Ahsan, confirmed the visit to The Express Tribune, stating that Ma arrived in Lahore on June 29 and stayed for 23 hours.
Jack Ma, during the visit, avoided interactions with government officials and the media. He resided at a private location and left on June 30 via a private jet registered under the name VP-CMA, owned by Jet Aviation.
While the purpose of Ma's visit remains confidential at this point, there is hope that it will yield positive outcomes for Pakistan in the days to come, according to Ahsan, The Express Tribune reported.
Speculations surfaced on social media about Jack Ma and his team exploring business opportunities in Pakistan, including visits to trade centers and meetings with prominent businessmen and officials from various chambers of commerce.
However, there has been no official confirmation about the meetings and business deals yet.
Founded by Jack Ma, Alibaba has acquired the e-commerce company Daraz, which currently operates in South Asian countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Nepal.