Key points
- Direct flights between Pakistan and Bangladesh discussed
- 500 scholarships for Bangladeshi students in Pakistan
- MOU signed on halal trade cooperation
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has extended an offer to Bangladesh to utilise the Karachi Port to facilitate its trade with regional nations, including China and the Central Asian states, the country’s state-run Radio reported.
This offer was made during the 9th Pak-Bangladesh Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting held in Dhaka. The meeting was co-chaired by Pakistan’s Minister for Petroleum, Ali Pervez Malik, and Bangladesh’s Adviser on Finance, Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed. It marked a significant step in strengthening bilateral economic and development ties between the two countries, reports Radio Pakistan.
The JEC also focused on increasing collaboration between the national shipping corporations of both nations. One of the key agreements made was to expedite the initiation of direct flights between Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Pak-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor
In Cairo last December, during the D-8 Summit, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif and Bangladesh Chief Adviser Dr Yunus had already underlined the potential of deepening economic ties. Sharif thanked Dhaka for recent steps easing trade and travel, including the removal of special inspections for Pakistani consignments and passengers. He stressed Pakistan’s interest in boosting trade in sectors such as chemicals, cement clinker, surgical and leather goods, and IT.
Both sides have also launched the Pakistan–Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor, offering 500 scholarships for Bangladeshi students over the next five years, including 125 in medical studies. Training for 100 Bangladeshi civil servants will be arranged under the Pakistan Technical Assistance Programme.
The two countries also discussed the creation of a Pak-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor, which would include the provision of 500 fully funded scholarships for Bangladeshi students to study in Pakistan.
The meeting saw both sides agreeing to enhance cooperation across a range of sectors including trade, investment, energy, climate change, IT, agriculture, transport, education, health, tourism, information and broadcasting, textile, and religious tourism.
Additionally, Pakistan committed to increasing the number of training seats under the Pakistan Technical Assistance Programme from 5 to 25, providing more opportunities for Bangladeshi professionals.
Significant step
A significant step in the area of halal trade was also taken, as Pakistan Halal Authority and Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation in the certification and quality control of halal products.
Addressing the meeting, Ali Pervez Malik emphasised that Pakistan and Bangladesh share a relationship based on mutual respect and friendship. At the conclusion of the meeting, the two nations signed the agreed minutes, marking the successful completion of the 9th Pak-Bangladesh Joint Economic Commission meeting.
