MANAMA: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain on Wednesday at the Al-Qudaibiya Palace in Manama, underscoring Pakistan’s commitment to deepening economic, strategic, and people-to-people ties between the two nations. The Prime Minister was accorded a guard of honor upon arrival and thanked the Crown Prince for the warm hospitality.
During the meeting, Sharif congratulated Bahrain on securing a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2026–2027 and affirmed Pakistan’s readiness for close cooperation during its tenure. Economic cooperation dominated the discussions, with Sharif highlighting the potential to raise bilateral trade from the current USD 550 million to USD 1 billion over the next three years, facilitated by the Pakistan–GCC Free Trade Agreement, currently in advanced stages, and recent easing of visa requirements.
The Prime Minister invited Bahraini investors to explore opportunities in food security, IT, construction, healthcare, renewable energy, tourism, and minerals, and proposed enhanced port-to-port connectivity between Karachi/Gwadar and Khalifa Bin Salman Port. He also acknowledged Bahrain’s support for the over 150,000-strong Pakistani community and offered further skilled manpower. Collaboration in higher education, technical training, and digital governance was also discussed, building on the King Hamad University initiative.
Security and defence cooperation were reviewed, with both sides agreeing to strengthen collaboration in training, cybersecurity, defence production, and intelligence sharing. The recent developments in Gaza were also discussed, with both leaders emphasizing the urgent need for peace and stability in the region.
The bilateral meeting concluded with a commitment to translate discussions into tangible outcomes, further elevating Pakistan–Bahrain relations across economic, strategic, security, and cultural domains. In a separate meeting with King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, Sharif was conferred the Order of Bahrain (first class), the kingdom’s highest award for heads of state and government.
The King highlighted Pakistan’s historical role, noting Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s long-standing legal representation of Bahrain, and reiterated support for initiatives such as the recently inaugurated King Hamad University for Nursing and Allied Medical Sciences in Islamabad. Both sides agreed to continue enhancing cooperation in political, economic, defence, and cultural spheres, reaffirming a partnership rooted in shared faith, history, and mutual respect.
The meetings mark a significant step in consolidating Pakistan–Bahrain relations and expanding opportunities for investment, trade, and strategic collaboration.
