Pakistan, Jordan move toward PTA

Pakistan and Jordan have agreed to pursue a preferential trade agreement (PTA) and widen cooperation across 16 priority sectors, as the two countries sought to convert long-standing diplomatic ties into tangible economic outcomes during a joint ministerial meeting held in Islamabad this week.

The understanding was reached at the 10th session of the Pakistan-Jordan Joint Ministerial Commission, held on February 4-5, co-chaired by Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Jordan's Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Yarub Qudah, according to an official statement issued on Thursday.

The meeting marked a renewed push to operationalise cooperation under the Joint Ministerial Commission framework that was established in 1975 but has remained underutilised in recent years.

A key outcome of the session was the agreement to initiate consultations on a preferential trade agreement aimed at improving market access and reducing trade barriers between the two countries. The proposed framework is expected to focus on facilitating trade flows and encouraging private sector participation.

To steer the process, the two sides agreed to activate a Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment. The commission also decided to revive the Pakistan-Jordan Business Council and promote business-to-business engagement to support commercial partnerships.

In parallel, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on information technology and telecommunications to enhance cooperation in digital innovation, technology services and collaboration between the information and communications technology sectors.

Beyond trade, the commission agreed to strengthen cooperation in banking and finance, including engagement between the central banks of both countries. It also endorsed expanded collaboration in industry, agriculture, halal standards, education, skills development and healthcare through institutional linkages and dedicated working groups.

The agreed areas of cooperation further include climate change, energy, mining, maritime affairs, media, culture and tourism, reflecting an effort to broaden engagement beyond traditional trade and commercial exchanges.

Welcoming the signing of the protocol, the commerce minister said the Joint Ministerial Commission reflected a shared resolve to pursue result-oriented cooperation, particularly in trade, investment and private sector engagement.

Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs Muhammad Humair Karim Kidwai emphasised the importance of structured follow-up mechanisms to ensure that the decisions taken during the session translated into measurable outcomes.

Both sides acknowledged that the breadth of agreed cooperation would require sustained coordination and effective implementation to deliver results.

The two governments expressed their commitment to holding meetings of the Joint Ministerial Commission on a regular basis, describing it as a key institutional platform for advancing Pakistan-Jordan economic cooperation and maintaining momentum on agreed initiatives.