Islamabad (GNP): Pakistan and Bahrain have set up a new government-level Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment after the third session of their Joint Ministerial Commission, held in Islamabad today. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Bahrain’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, co-chaired the session and later signed the protocol recording its minutes at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The document records understandings across trade and investment, agriculture and food security, oil, gas and minerals, maritime affairs, IT and telecommunications, health, education and labour, among other fields. The new trade and investment group is meant to provide a regular channel for consultation and coordination on bilateral commerce.
At a joint news conference, Dar said the protocol reflects both sides’ resolve to widen cooperation. A central result, he said, was a stronger institutional framework through several operational joint working groups, which should keep engagement regular and ensure the commission’s decisions are carried out.
He said the two countries agreed to step up work on trade and investment promotion, industrial collaboration, agriculture and food security, skills development, higher education, IT, logistics and maritime affairs, and welcomed closer ties between their business communities. They also recommitted to cooperation on labour mobility, vocational training and human resource development, aiming to open new opportunities for skilled Pakistani professionals and workers.
On the situation in the Gulf, Dar said the ministers stressed restraint, de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy, and discussed safeguarding freedom and safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab-ul-Mandab, given their importance to regional and global food and energy security. Pakistan, he said, will continue to support diplomatic efforts for regional peace and stability.
Turning to South Asia, he said the talks touched on Afghanistan and the Indus Waters Treaty. He stressed that foreign territory must not be used against Pakistan, and described India’s unilateral decision to hold the treaty in abeyance as a material breach of international law and a dangerous attempt to turn shared water into a weapon.
Al Zayani said that besides the trade and investment group, a Joint Working Group on Energy will meet next month to address oil, gas and minerals. Cooperation will also advance in food security, IT, law enforcement, media, labour mobility, health, education, culture and sport. Both sides, he added, are committed to finalising the GCC-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement.
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He said his visit confirmed the strategic character of the relationship and that both countries intend to build on these results for the peace, stability and prosperity of their nations and the wider region. Answering a question, he called the relationship very strong and said the two countries should double their trade within three years.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
