ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bahrain have agreed to step up economic cooperation and work towards doubling bilateral trade to $1 billion over the next three years.
The agreement was reached during the third session of the Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC), co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani in Islamabad.
Speaking at a joint press conference after the meeting on Thursday, Dar said both countries had signed the protocol of the JMC session, describing it as an important step towards expanding cooperation across multiple sectors.
He said the two sides had also strengthened the institutional mechanism for bilateral engagement by operationalising several joint working groups. These groups, he added, would facilitate regular consultations and help implement decisions reached by the commission.
According to Dar, Pakistan and Bahrain agreed to enhance collaboration in trade and investment, industry, agriculture, food security, skills development, higher education, information technology, logistics and maritime affairs.
The two countries also reaffirmed their commitment to labour mobility, vocational training and human resource development, with Dar stressing the importance of creating greater employment opportunities for skilled Pakistani workers and professionals in Bahrain.
The deputy prime minister said his discussions with the Bahraini foreign minister also covered regional developments, particularly the situation in Afghanistan and the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
Regarding the water accord, Dar said India’s unilateral decision to put the IWT in abeyance amounted to a material breach of international law and risked turning shared water resources into a tool of political pressure. The two ministers also discussed the evolving situation in the Gulf and stressed the need for restraint, diplomacy, dialogue and efforts aimed at preventing further escalation.
Al Zayani said Pakistan and Bahrain had agreed to establish a joint working group on trade and investment, while the joint working group on energy would meet next month to discuss cooperation in oil, gas and minerals.
He said the two countries would also pursue joint initiatives in food security, IT, law enforcement, media, labour, healthcare, education, culture and sports.
The Bahraini minister further said both sides were committed to completing the GCC-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement.
Responding to a question about economic ties, Al Zayani described relations between Pakistan and Bahrain as strong and said both sides should work together to double bilateral trade within three years.
Focus on trade and manpower
During the JMC session, Dar reiterated the $1 billion bilateral trade target, saying its achievement would require sustained efforts by both governments and the private sectors. He called for stronger business-to-business and government-to-government linkages to expand commercial ties and unlock new investment opportunities.
Dar noted that around 134,000 Pakistanis live in Bahrain and stressed the need to further facilitate the movement of skilled Pakistani manpower to the Gulf state.
The Bahraini foreign minister also strongly condemned the October 6 and 7 attacks targeting Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia, as well as attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure by the Houthis and assaults targeting Makkah and Madina.
He said attacks against airports and civilian facilities were violations of international law and international humanitarian law.
Al Zayani reaffirmed Bahrain’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia, saying Riyadh’s security was integral to the security of Bahrain and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council.
He also praised Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to facilitate talks in Islamabad and promote dialogue and de-escalation.
Earlier, following his arrival in Pakistan for a two-day visit, Al Zayani held a separate meeting with Dar at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to a post by the Foreign Office on X, the two ministers reviewed the state of Pakistan-Bahrain relations and expressed satisfaction over the growing momentum in high-level contacts between the two countries.
