Pakistan, Bahrain eye $1bn bilateral trade in three years

MANAMA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said that Pakistan aims to increase bilateral trade with Bahrain to $1 billion within the next three years.

The premier arrived in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, on a two-day official visit, where he was accorded a guard of honour at Qasr Al-Qudaibiya.

Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad, during which both leaders discussed economic cooperation and matters of mutual interest.

The prime minister thanked the crown prince for the warm welcome and appreciated Bahrain’s leadership for strengthening bilateral relations.

He also congratulated Bahrain on securing a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for a two-year term and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing strategic, economic, security and people-to-people cooperation.

Highlighting Pakistan’s future engagement targets, Shehbaz Sharif said bilateral trade would be raised to $1 billion in three years, and welcomed increased collaboration in higher education, technical training and digital governance.

The premier invited Bahraini investors to explore opportunities in Pakistan’s food security, IT, construction and other sectors. He also proposed expanding port connectivity between Karachi, Gwadar and Khalifa bin Salman Port.

Both sides agreed to expand cooperation in training, cybersecurity, defence production and information exchange.

Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude for the construction of King Hamad University in Islamabad and for Bahrain’s role in facilitating the release and repatriation of Pakistani nationals.