Bahrain Pledges to Fast-Track Pak-GCC Free Trade Pact After Islamabad Session
Bahrain Pledges to Fast-Track Pak-GCC Free Trade Pact After Islamabad Session
Bahrain has promised to use its presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council to push the long-pending Pak-GCC free trade agreement towards approval. The pledge came from Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani in Islamabad on Thursday, after the third session of the Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Ministerial Commission, on a day that also took him to the presidency, the PM Office and GHQ.
Pak-GCC free trade agreement: what the JMC decided
The commission was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Al Zayani and covered more than 15 fields. The two sides agreed to set up a joint working group on trade and investment, to convene the energy working group next month on oil, gas and minerals, and to advance cooperation in food security, IT, law enforcement, media, labour mobility, health, education, culture and sports.
Al Zayani said both sides had committed to finalising the trade deal, reported to be near completion in late 2025, and that Bahrain was working to “speed up the signing or the approval of the GCC-Pakistan FTA”. Dar said the GCC secretary general had told him the deal was “almost ripe”, with one member country still to give its green light. He also reaffirmed the target of raising bilateral trade to $1 billion and asked Bahrain to help recognise Pakistani degrees and ease the movement of skilled labour.
Zardari, Shehbaz and the army chief
Al Zayani called on President Asif Ali Zardari, who said Pakistan wanted to turn strong political ties into deeper trade and investment links, naming food security, IT and digital services, construction, mining, port handling, research and development, tourism and healthcare. Zardari noted that over 134,000 Pakistanis live in the kingdom and offered to deepen defence cooperation in manpower, logistics, training and hardware. Al Zayani commended Pakistan’s regional mediation efforts, saying they had “helped save many lives”.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stressed cooperation in trade, investment, energy and human resource development. The minister then met Chief of Defence Forces and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at GHQ to discuss regional security and defence ties.
Gulf, Palestine and water on the table
Al Zayani called the relationship “very healthy and strong”, thanked Islamabad for its principled positions, including support for a UN resolution condemning attacks on GCC countries, and praised Pakistan’s role in facilitating US-Iran dialogue. He condemned the recent attacks on Saudi airports and on civilians and the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, calling the targeting of civilian facilities a flagrant violation of international law. The ministers also discussed the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab and stressed freedom of navigation.
Dar spoke of the need for restraint, de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy in the Gulf and raised India’s decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, terming it a “material breach of international law” that jeopardised the water, food and energy security of Pakistan’s 250 million people.
Why this visit matters
The JMC dates back to 2014 and last met in Manama in July 2021. More than 140,000 Pakistanis work in Bahrain, a community both sides called a living bridge. The two countries mark 55 years of diplomatic relations on October 14, and the next JMC session is planned in Bahrain in 2027, with both sides aiming to meet every year.
Frequently asked questions
What did Bahrain promise on the Pak-GCC free trade agreement?
Bahrain’s foreign minister said that with Manama holding the GCC presidency, it was working to speed up the signing or approval of the long-pending free trade agreement between Pakistan and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
What did the Pakistan-Bahrain JMC agree on?
It agreed to set up a joint working group on trade and investment, convene the energy working group next month on oil, gas and minerals, and deepen cooperation across food security, IT, health, education and labour mobility.
Who did the Bahraini foreign minister meet in Pakistan?
Besides co-chairing the JMC with Ishaq Dar, Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani met President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir during his two-day visit.
