The resolve was expressed at the third session of the Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Ministerial Commission, co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Bahrain’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, in Islamabad today.
Later, addressing a joint news conference, the Deputy Prime Minister said they have signed the protocol of the third session of the Joint Ministerial Commission, reflecting the shared resolve to further strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
He mentioned that a key outcome of the session was the strengthening of the institutional framework through the operationalization of several joint working groups. He said these mechanisms will help ensure regular engagement and effective implementation of the decisions taken by the Joint Ministerial Commission.
Ishaq Dar said both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in trade and investment promotion, industrial collaboration, agriculture and food security, skills development, higher education, information technology, logistics and maritime affairs, among other areas. He said they particularly welcomed closer engagement between the business communities of the two countries.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in labour mobility, vocational training and human resource development with a view to creating new opportunities for skilled Pakistani professionals and workers. He said they also exchanged views on the evolving situation in the Gulf and emphasized the importance of restraint, de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy. He said they discussed the need to ensure the safety and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab-ul-Mandab, given their importance to regional and global food and energy security.
Ishaq Dar said Pakistan remains committed to playing a constructive role in supporting diplomatic efforts for peace and stability in the region.
The Deputy Prime Minister said their discussions also focused on developments in South Asia, including Afghanistan and the Indus Waters Treaty. He underscored the need to ensure that a foreign territory is not used against Pakistan. On the Indus Waters Treaty, he underscored that India’s unilateral decision to place the treaty in abeyance constitutes a material breach of international law and represents a dangerous attempt to weaponize shared water resources.
The Foreign Minister of Bahrain, in his remarks, said both sides have agreed to establish a Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment, to convene the Joint Working Group on Energy next month on oil, gas and minerals, and to take forward cooperation in food security, information technology, law enforcement, media, labour mobility, health, education, culture and sport. He said the two sides also committed to finalising the GCC-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement.
He said his visit has reaffirmed the strategic nature of bilateral relations and that they are determined to build on today’s outcomes for the peace, stability and prosperity of our countries, the region and beyond.
Responding to a question, the Foreign Minister of Bahrain said the Pakistan-Bahrain relationship is very strong and the two countries have to double their trade in three years.
