Pakistan and Bahrain prioritized expansion of trade, investment and sectoral cooperation as part of Pak-GCC advancement
Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa presents the Order of Bahrain to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Manama. Photo: INP
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to deepening bilateral relations with Bahrain on the basis of shared faith and mutual respect.
The Prime Minister met with Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa in Manama and reaffirmed the strong and historic partnership between the two brotherly nations, the media wing of the Prime Minister’s Office said in a press release.
Addressing 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 final stages of finalization.
He invited Bahraini investors to explore opportunities through the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), particularly in the areas of food security, IT, construction, mining, tourism and health.
The Prime Minister also expressed gratitude for the support provided to the over 150,000-strong Pakistani community in Bahrain and thanked the King for pardoning Pakistani prisoners.
They reaffirmed the importance of the long-standing defense partnership and agreed to continue strengthening cooperation in training, logistics, manpower and defense production.
The two sides reviewed the encouraging dynamics of bilateral relations and agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the political, economic, defense and cultural fields.
They also discussed recent developments in Gaza and agreed that the establishment of peace and stability was long overdue for the people of Gaza who had been suffering for decades.
The Prime Minister thanked him for his warm hospitality and expressed appreciation for Bahrain’s long-standing goodwill towards Pakistan.
He praised King’s leadership in promoting peace, tolerance and coexistence.
During the meeting, the King of Bahrain awarded Prime Minister Sharif the Order of Bahrain (First Class), which is the highest honor bestowed by Bahrain on heads of state and government.
Meanwhile, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa confers the Order of Bahrain (First Class) on 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 in a legal proceeding by none other than Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Muhammad Ali Jinnah served as Bahrain’s lawyer for a long time, he added.
The Prime Minister thanked the generous support of the King of Bahrain, particularly for the establishment of the King Hamad University of Nursing and Allied Medical Sciences in Islamabad, inaugurated in September 2025.
The Prime Minister also welcomed the 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 hosted a banquet in honor of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and the Pakistani delegation after the meeting.
Earlier, the Prime Minister received a guard of honor upon his arrival at Al-Qudaibiya Palace. Prime Minister Sharif, during his meeting with the Crown Prince, thanked him for his warm hospitality and commended Bahrain’s leadership in strengthening bilateral relations.
The Prime Minister congratulated Bahrain on its success as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for a 2-year term 2026-2027 and expressed Pakistan’s keenness 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 in an advanced stage of finalization and recently relaxed visa requirements.
He invited Bahraini investors to explore opportunities in the areas of food security, IT, construction, mining and minerals, health, renewable energy and tourism. It also proposed improved port-to-port connectivity between Karachi/Gwadar and Khalifa Bin Salman Port.
The Prime Minister acknowledged Bahrain’s support for the more than 150,000-strong Pakistani community and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to providing a more skilled workforce.
He welcomed continued 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.
Defense and security cooperation was also discussed, with both sides agreeing to further expand their collaboration in the areas of training, cybersecurity, defense production and information sharing.
The two leaders discussed 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.
