Pakistan sees FTA as engine of growth with Gulf countries

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reiterated Pakistan's commitment to deepening bilateral ties with Bahrain based on shared faith and mutual respect.

The prime minister met King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa in Manama and reaffirmed the strong and historic partnership between the two brotherly nations, the PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

Discussing economic relations, the prime minister highlighted Pakistan's desire to expand trade and investment.

He noted that bilateral trade was poised to grow with the Pakistan-GCC Free Trade Agreement, which is currently in the last stages of finalization.

He invited Bahraini investors to explore opportunities through the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), especially in food security, IT, construction, mining, tourism, and healthcare.

The prime minister also expressed appreciation for the support provided to more than 150,000-strong Pakistani community in Bahrain and thanked the King for pardoning Pakistani prisoners.

They reaffirmed the importance of the longstanding defence partnership and agreed to continue strengthening cooperation in training, logistics, manpower, and defence production.

Both sides reviewed the encouraging momentum in bilateral relations and agreed to further enhance cooperation in political, economic, defence, and cultural fields.

They also discussed the recent developments in Gaza and agreed that the establishment of peace and stability was long overdue for the people of Gaza who had suffered for decades.

The prime minister thanked him for the warm hospitality and expressed appreciation for Bahrain's longstanding goodwill toward Pakistan.

He commended King's leadership in promoting peace, tolerance, and coexistence.

During the meeting the King of Bahrain conferred upon Prime Minister Sharif the Order of Bahrain (first class), which is the highest award given by Bahrain to Heads of States and governments.

Meanwhile, King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa confers the Order of Bahrain (First Class) upon Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Manama, Bahrain.

The King informed the prime minister that the kingdom of Bahrain had the privilege of being represented at a legal forum by none other than Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Muhammad Ali Jinnah served in the capacity of Bahrain's lawyer for a long time, he added.

The prime minister thanked King of Bahrain's generous support, including the establishment of the King Hamad University for Nursing and Allied Medical Sciences in Islamabad, inaugurated in September 2025.

The prime minister also welcomed recent high-level exchanges and expressed gratitude for Bahrain's solidarity following the recent terrorist incidents in Pakistan.

At the end of the meeting both sides expressed confidence that the visit would further consolidate the enduring friendship and cooperation between Pakistan and Bahrain.

The King of Bahrain organized a banquet in honour of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and the Pakistani delegation at the end of the meeting.

Earlier, the prime minister was presented a guard of honor upon his arrival at the Al-Qudaibiya Palace. Prime Minister Sharif during the call on with the Crown Prince, thanked him for the warm hospitality and commended Bahrain's leadership in strengthening bilateral ties.

The PM congratulated Bahrain on its success for the UN Security Council non-permanent membership for a 2 year term 2026-2027 and expressed Pakistan's readiness for close coordination during its tenure.

The meeting focused on economic cooperation, where the prime minister highlighted the potential to increase bilateral trade, currently over $550 million, to $1 billion within three years, supported by the Pakistan-GCC Free Trade Agreement, which is at advanced stage of finalisation and recently eased visa requirements.

He invited Bahraini investors to explore opportunities in food security, IT, construction, mines and minerals, healthcare, renewable energy, and tourism. He also proposed enhanced port-to-port connectivity between Karachi/Gwadar and Khalifa Bin Salman Port.

The prime minister acknowledged Bahrain's support for the over 150,000-strong Pakistani community and reaffirmed Pakistan's readiness to provide more skilled manpower.

He welcomed further collaboration in higher education, technical training, and digital governance, building on the King Hamad University initiative, and thanked Bahrain for facilitating the release and repatriation of Pakistani nationals.

Defence and security cooperation were also discussed, with both sides agreeing to further expand collaboration in training, cybersecurity, defence production, and information sharing.

Both leaders discussed the recent developments in Gaza, and agreed that the establishment of peace and stability was long overdue for the people of Gaza who have suffered for decades.