Pakistan-Bahrain agree to boost economic and defence cooperation
Pakistan and Bahrain have pledged to further strengthen their bilateral partnership, with both countries expressing a firm commitment to expand cooperation in economic, defence, and political spheres during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official visit to Manama on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Shehbaz, who is on a two-day visit to the Gulf nation, held a detailed meeting with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at Al-Qudaibiya Palace. According to the Pakistani Prime Minister’s Office, both leaders reaffirmed the historic friendship rooted in shared faith, cultural ties and decades of mutual support.
The prime minister highlighted Pakistan’s strong interest in deepening economic engagement, noting that bilateral trade—currently valued at more than $550 million—has significant room for growth. He said the Pakistan–GCC Free Trade Agreement (FTA), now in its final stages, would open new avenues for trade and investment.
Inviting Bahraini investors to take advantage of opportunities through Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Shehbaz emphasized promising sectors such as food security, IT, minerals, tourism, construction and healthcare. He also praised Bahrain for hosting over 150,000 Pakistanis and thanked the king for his recent pardoning of Pakistani prisoners.
Both countries reiterated their commitment to strengthening defence cooperation, agreeing to deepen collaboration in training, logistics, manpower development and defence production. Officials noted a “positive and encouraging momentum” in bilateral ties and said they aim to broaden cooperation across political, economic, defence and cultural domains.
The regional situation, particularly the ongoing crisis in Gaza, was also discussed. Pakistan and Bahrain jointly acknowledged that the people of Gaza have endured decades of suffering and stressed the urgency of lasting peace and humanitarian relief.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also congratulated Bahrain on winning a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for the 2026–27 term, expressing Pakistan’s readiness for close coordination during Bahrain’s tenure.
Both sides agreed that with stronger diplomatic engagement and enhanced economic cooperation, the Pakistan–Bahrain partnership is well-positioned for a new phase of growth.
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