Pakistan on Thursday expressed its take trade and economic ties with Bahrain to “new heights” as the two countries held third session of their Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in Islamabad.

Bahrain’s FM Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani — who arrived in Pakistan last night on a two-day visit — co-chaired the JMC session along with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

Addressing a joint press briefing with the Bahrain FM, Dar thanked Al Zayani and his delegation for “their constructive engagement and their very valuable contribution to the success of today’s JMC session”.

“Pakistan-Bahrain friendship remains strong and forward-looking, and we are brotherly nations, with long fraternal ties, cooperating on international foras and meeting very frequently wherever we get an opportunity like brothers,” the DPM said.

He expressed Pakistan’s commitment to “building an even more prosperous future together, God-willing, and taking the trade and economic ties to a new height”.

Dar said Islamabad looked forward to the convening of the JMC’s fourth session in Bahrain, adding: “My brother has taken a commitment from me that, unlike today’s session which has been held after five years, I have to find a day for the next one in 365 days during 2027.”

Dar also raised the issue of India’s unilateral decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, terming it a “material breach of international law”.

“Such actions jeopardise the water, food and energy security of Pakistan’s 250 million people,” the deputy premier stressed.

In his address to the JMC meeting, Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to increase bilateral trade with Bahrain to the $1 billion target set earlier.

Noting the target of doubling trade in three years, of which one has already elapsed, Dar quipped, “But God forbid, if we miss [the target by] a few months, we have a great excuse that this period has been very turbulent.”

Dar also referred to a potential free trade agreement (FTA) with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), noting that the GCC secretary general told him the deal was “almost ripe”, barring one country, which still needed to give a green light.

“I’m sure the signing of the free trade agreement between the GCC and Pakistan will surely help us in achieving our goals,” the deputy premier said, adding that it would lead to an increase in imports and exports.

“What we need is to complement government-to-government efforts with business-to-business,” the minister stressed.

He requested the Bahraini side to work towards recognising degrees and professional qualifications, while facilitating greater mobility of skilled labour between the two countries.

Bilateral meeting

Prior to the Pakistan-Bahrain JMC, the two foreign ministers also held a separate meeting after Al Zayani’s arrival at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In a post on X about the “cordial” meeting, the Foreign Office (FO) said the two ministers “reviewed Pakistan–Bahrain relations and expressed satisfaction at the positive momentum in high-level engagement between the two countries”.

“They discussed ways to further expand bilateral cooperation across areas of mutual interest, particularly in trade, economic and investment relations, as well as through engagement at multilateral fora.”

The two sides also exchanged views on “regional and international developments of mutual interest and underscored that dialogue and diplomacy remain the most viable means of addressing challenges and resolving disputes”, FO added.

According to an earlier FO statement, the two sides were to “review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and discuss ways to further strengthen cooperation across diverse areas of mutual interest, including trade, investment, economic cooperation, defence and security, labour and manpower, and cultural exchanges”.

“Pakistan and Bahrain enjoy close, brotherly relations founded on shared faith, common values, mutual respect, and longstanding people-to-people links,” FO noted.

Dar and Al Zayani last met in September on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where they discussed bilateral relations, including preparations for the JMC session.

They also exchanged views on regional and international developments, with Al Zayani appreciating Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability.

Pak-Bahrain exchanges

Islamabad and Manama had agreed to establish the JMC in 2014, when King Sheikh Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al-Khalifa paid a three-day visit to Pakistan.

Following the last JMC session in July 2021, which was held in Manama, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to promote business between the two countries.

Earlier this month, Dar chaired an inter-ministerial meeting to review preparations for the Pakistan-Bahrain JMC and directed the ministries concerned to pursue concrete outcomes from the Bahrain FM’s visit.

The Pakistani leadership has also undertaken official visits to the Gulf kingdom in recent years.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by Dar, made a two-day trip to Bahrain in November 2025, during which he met with the king and crown prince there.

Then, in January this year, President Asif Ali Zardari made a four-day trip to the kingdom, where he highlighted economic opportunities that Pakistan offers.