DHAKA: Pakistan has offered Bangladesh the use of Karachi Port for regional trade.
The offer was made during the ninth session of the Pakistan-Bangladesh Joint Economic Commission which was held after two decades.
The session marked an important milestone in strengthening bilateral economic and developmental cooperation between the two nations.
Held in Dhaka, the session was co-chaired by Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervez Malik and Bangladesh’s Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed.
According to the joint communiqué, Pakistan proposed that Bangladesh utilize the Karachi Port Trust for trade with China, Central Asian states, and other regional countries. Both sides emphasized the need to enhance cooperation between their national shipping corporations and agreed to expedite efforts to resume direct flights between the two countries.
Ali Pervez Malik expressed gratitude for Bangladesh’s hospitality, saying that relations between the two nations are based on mutual respect and friendship.
As per the declaration, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Pakistan Halal Authority and the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute to strengthen collaboration in halal trade. The MoU aims to enhance cooperation in product quality assurance and certification.
The meeting also underscored the establishment of a Pakistan–Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor, proposing 500 new fully funded scholarships in Pakistan for Bangladeshi students. Under the Pakistan Technical Assistance Programme, the number of training seats was increased from five to twenty-five.
Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, industry, energy, climate change, and information technology. The partnership will also extend to agriculture, transport, education, banking, health, tourism, media, and textiles. Additionally, both countries agreed to collaborate in medical and religious tourism sectors. At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides signed the agreed minutes of the ninth session of the Joint Economic Commission.
