KEY POINTS
- PM Sharif said the Pakistan–GCC Free Trade Agreement will significantly boost regional trade.
- Sharif urged Bahraini leadership and businesses to expand cooperation with Pakistan.
- PM Sharif reaffirmed the government’s focus on skills development to drive economic partnerships.
MANAMA, Bahrain: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that the Pakistan–GCC Free Trade Agreement, expected to be signed soon, will significantly strengthen trade ties between Pakistan and Gulf Cooperation Council member states, particularly Bahrain.
PM Sharif was addressing the business community in Manama, the capital of Bahrain. The premier had arrived in Bahrain’s capital a day earlier and held delegation-level talks with Bahrain’s leadership at Al Qudaibiya Palace.
Addressing the business community, Prime Minister Sharif said Pakistan is fully prepared to support joint ventures, facilitate investment plans and advance mutually beneficial partnerships.
Shehbaz Sharif encouraged Bahrain’s leadership and private sector to work closely with Pakistan to further energize key sectors, including industry, agriculture, information technology and fintech.
PM Sharif described Pakistan and Bahrain as brotherly nations whose relationship is rooted in shared culture, faith, mutual respect and trust.
The Prime Minister said both countries have enjoyed decades of strategic cooperation and should now focus on expanding this partnership into robust economic collaboration.
PM Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s readiness to enhance cooperation with Bahrain in areas of mutual interest, including agriculture, IT, artificial intelligence and fintech.
The Prime Minister also thanked Bahrain’s leadership — the King, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Crown Prince and the Foreign Minister — for their continued support, describing his meetings with them as highly productive.
“It is equally heartening to see our vibrant Pakistani community of over 100,000 in Bahrain, which continues to bring honour to our nation. The more I learn of their journeys, the more convinced I become that Pakistani identity is not bound by geography. It lives in the heart of… pic.twitter.com/AqAcB6VIVh
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) November 27, 2025
PM Sharif paid tribute to the Pakistani community in Bahrain for their hard work, resilience and contribution to both countries. He noted that Pakistanis living in Bahrain sent home remittances worth $484 million in the last financial year, calling it a remarkable contribution.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed deep gratitude to King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation during the two-day official visit.
Shehbaz Sharif said ties between Islamabad and Manama were based on cultural, religious, mutual respect and trust. These “are the pillars of our relations”, he added.
He termed his recent meetings with Bahrain’s leadership “extremely productive”. “I am not a visitor here. I have come here to meet my family members, our Bahraini brothers and sisters,” he said.
“This is what our relationship is all about. Now we have to convert these wonderful relations into economic cooperation,” he added.
The premier highlighted that Pakistan possessed a “great youth bulge”. “Sixty percent of our population comprises young boys and girls within the [age] bracket of 15 to 30 years,” he said.
He added that the country was “committed” to converting this challenge into an opportunity by empowering the youth and training them in the fields of information technology and artificial intelligence, along with providing vocational and skills training.
“The Pakistan GCC Free Trade Agreement has been nearly finalized and is expected to be signed soon. This milestone will significantly enhance trade between Pakistan and the GCC countries, particularly with Bahrain.
We are eager to partner with Bahraini entrepreneurs and stand… pic.twitter.com/XlHiBgewla
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) November 27, 2025
“Together with our Bahraini brothers, entrepreneurs, we will create a great momentum in this field,” he said.
“I think this is the time to really catch up because time and tide wait for none,” PM Shehbaz stressed.
PM Sharif also talked about the Pakistani community in Bahrain. The premier added that in every country he visited, he interacted with Pakistani communities and listened to the “stories of men and women whose love for Pakistan has never faded, even as they have dedicated their talent, loyalty and hard work to the progress of other nations and cultures”.
“The more I learn of these journeys, the more convinced I become that the Pakistani identity is not bound by geography. It is in the hearts of our people wherever they may be. Here in Bahrain, that spirit is visible beyond any ray of doubt,” he emphasised.
PM Sharif appreciated the Pakistanis living in Bahrain for their services to both countries. “You are great ambassadors of Pakistan, and we are very proud of your contribution to Pakistan’s national economic development,” he said.
“Your hard-earned money, valuable remittances amounting to $484 million in the last financial year, is indeed highly appreciated.”
