Pakistan and Bahrain prioritized expanding trade, investment and sectoral cooperation under the promotion of the Pak-GCC framework
The King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa awards 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 deepen bilateral ties with Bahrain based on common faith and mutual respect.
The Prime Minister met Bahrain’s King 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 currently in the final stages of completion.
He invited Bahraini investors to explore opportunities through the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), particularly in food security, IT, construction, mining, tourism and healthcare.
The prime minister also expressed appreciation for the support of the more than 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 to strengthen cooperation in training, logistics, manpower and defense production.
Both sides reviewed the encouraging momentum in bilateral relations and agreed to further strengthen cooperation in political, economic, defense and cultural fields.
They also discussed the latest 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 the warm hospitality and expressed appreciation for Bahrain’s longstanding 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 award given by Bahrain to heads of state and government.
Meanwhile, the King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa awards the Order of Bahrain (First Class) to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Manama, Bahrain.
The King informed the Prime Minister that the Kingdom of Bahrain was privileged to be represented at a legal forum 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 King of Bahrain for his generous support, including the establishment of the King Hamad University for Nursing and Allied Medical Sciences in Islamabad, which was 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 will further consolidate the enduring friendship and cooperation between Pakistan and Bahrain.
The King of Bahrain organized a banquet in honor of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and the Pakistani delegation at the end of the meeting.
Earlier, the Prime Minister was presented with a guard of honor upon his arrival at the Al-Qudaibiya Palace. During the conversation with the Crown Prince, Prime Minister Sharif thanked him for the warm hospitality and praised Bahrain’s leadership in strengthening bilateral ties.
The Prime Minister 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, with the Prime Minister highlighting 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 an advanced stage of completion 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 suggested improved 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 cooperation 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 cooperation in training, cyber security, defense production and information sharing.
Both leaders discussed the latest 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.
