Pakistan, Bangladesh revive economic talks after two decades

Pakistan and Bangladesh have revived a bilateral trade body after two decades, in yet another indication of the improving ties between the two nations following the ouster of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year.

The Pakistan-Bangladesh Joint Economic Commission (JEC) met for its ninth meeting in Dhaka this week after a 20-year hiatus, according to an official statement.

The meeting was co-chaired by Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervez Malik and Bangladesh’s Adviser for Finance Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed.

“Pakistan and Bangladesh share a relationship built on mutual respect and friendship,” Minister Malik said.

The two sides discussed cooperation in trade investment, industry, energy, climate change, information technology, agriculture, transport and communications, education, banking, health, tourism, media, and textiles, according to the statement.

The work on resuming direct flights between Islamabad and Dhaka will also be expedited.

Pakistan offered Bangladesh the use of the Karachi Port Trust for international trade, enabling Dhaka to expand commerce with China, the Central Asian republics, and other regional markets.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Pakistan Halal Authority and the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution to promote collaboration in halal trade. The agreement is expected to enhance cooperation in the quality assurance and certification of halal products.

A proposal for establishing a knowledge corridor for 500 fully funded scholarships for Bangladeshi students to pursue higher education in Pakistan was also discussed.

The two countries also agreed to work together in the fields of medical and religious tourism.

Expanding economic cooperation

During his visit, Malik, Pakistan’s Minister of Petroleum, held a series of meetings with senior Bangladeshi officials, including Adviser on Foreign Affairs Mohammad Touhid Hossain, Adviser on Commerce, Textiles, Civil Aviation and Tourism Sheikh Bashiruddin, and Adviser on Energy and Mineral Resources Mohammad Fazlul Kabir Khan.

The officials expressed satisfaction over the revival of institutional mechanisms between the two nations and agreed to enhance cooperation in various sectors, particularly energy and natural resources.

“This Joint Economic Commission meeting, held after two decades, marks a positive milestone and the beginning of a new chapter in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations,” Malik said.

Bangladesh’s foreign affairs adviser stressed the importance of resuming direct air connectivity, calling it “essential for closer bilateral engagement.”

Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ties through mutual cooperation, trade facilitation, and sustained dialogue. The meeting was widely seen as a step toward normalizing and deepening relations between the two South Asian countries after years of limited engagement.