Pakistan-based International Packaging Films Limited (IPAK) is advancing the next stage of its flexible packaging films strategy, combining investment in metallised film production with an expanding BOPP, CPP and BOPET manufacturing base and a planned commercial presence in Europe.
The latest development is a proposed PKR1.4 billion investment by wholly owned subsidiary Global Packaging Films (GPAK) in a new metalliser, aimed at increasing production of value-added metallised packaging films.
The equipment is expected to expand GPAK’s metallising capacity and improve production efficiency while enabling the business to address demand for higher-value film structures in domestic and export markets.
The investment builds on a substantial expansion of IPAK’s film manufacturing platform. GPAK commenced commercial production in April 2024 with nameplate capacity of 59,480 tonnes/year of biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film, following the start-up of PETPAK Films in February 2024 with 41,920 tonnes/year of biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET) film.
Together with IPAK and Cast Packaging Films (CPAK), the additions expanded the group’s portfolio across BOPP, CPP and BOPET films. IPAK’s 2025 annual report places its collective nameplate capacity at more than 150,000 tonnes/year across four production facilities.
The significance for the packaging market is increasingly in the product mix rather than capacity alone. Metallisation adds another converting capability to the group’s film platform, enabling films with enhanced barrier and optical properties for applications where protection, shelf impact and material performance are important.
IPAK is also developing the commercial infrastructure to place more of this capacity into export markets. The company already operates IPAK Connect Packaging Materials Trading FZCO in Dubai, established to support international sales.
Its next proposed step is a wholly owned subsidiary in Portugal, to be established through IPAK Connect, subject to regulatory and corporate approvals. According to the company’s disclosure, the European operation is intended to support customer coordination, order planning, product-development discussions and relationships with distributors and other industry partners.
The combination points to a broader evolution of IPAK’s packaging-film business: from building domestic manufacturing scale towards increasing the share of specialised films and establishing closer commercial links with export customers.
That direction is already visible in the group’s financial performance. For the nine months ended 31 March 2026, IPAK reported consolidated exports of PKR7.34 billion, equivalent to approximately 24.1% of total sales, with the company citing sustained international demand and an increased focus on value-added speciality films.