The chief executive officer of Pakistan Furniture Council, Mian Kashif Ashfaq, said on Sunday that digital transformation of commerce is creating new pathways for economic integration and prosperity across the Asia-Pacific region. Speaking at a meeting of the council’s board of directors in Lahore, he noted that the region’s complementary digital economies offer substantial potential for coordinated development and stronger trade ties. Ashfaq highlighted that digital trade reduces barriers to participating in international markets, allowing small and micro-enterprises to access global value chains through digital platforms, particularly those developed in China. He argued that expanded digital participation can help narrow regional development gaps while promoting more inclusive economic growth. The PFC chief urged Pakistan to capitalise on the growth of digital trade by deepening regional partnerships, particularly with China as a major driver of digital and economic expansion. Ashfaq also pointed to regional frameworks including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement as mechanisms that foster connectivity and establish standards for the digital economy.