Pakistan, Singapore seek to expand trade and investment ties

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held bilateral and delegation-level talks with Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, conducting a comprehensive review of bilateral relations as both nations mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

How did the foreign ministers plan to expand economic cooperation and connectivity?

During the talks, the two foreign ministers reviewed longstanding, cordial ties and reaffirmed the importance of sustained high-level engagements to broaden the bilateral partnership.

The discussions focused on expanding cooperation across trade, investment, maritime and air connectivity, and technical skills development, alongside facilitating direct business-to-business linkages and cultural exchanges.

As part of institutional collaboration, both sides witnessed the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on disaster management cooperation between Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), aimed at bolstering joint capacity building, emergency response, and risk-reduction systems.

What role does Singapore’s upcoming ASEAN chairmanship play in Pakistan’s regional outreach?

The consultations placed strong emphasis on Pakistan’s strategic partnership with Southeast Asia and its deepening institutional engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The foreign ministers discussed multilateral coordination and avenues to elevate Pakistan’s sectoral dialogue partnership with the regional bloc, especially in the lead-up to Singapore assuming the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2027.

Exchanging perspectives on prevailing global and regional security dynamics, Dar emphasized the imperative of diplomacy, constructive dialogue, and peaceful dispute resolution under international law to foster lasting regional stability.

In addition to ministerial consultations, Dr. Balakrishnan’s itinerary in Islamabad included formal calls on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir to discuss broader bilateral defense and governance cooperation.