Pakistan, Qatar Reaffirm Expanding Trade Partnership
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Dr. Ahmad bin Mohammed Al Sayed, on Tuesday morning in Doha to review bilateral trade and economic cooperation and reaffirm both countries’ commitment to deepening commercial ties.
Dr. Al Sayed, who also serves as Chairman of the Pakistan–Qatar Joint Business Task Force, engaged in detailed discussions with the Prime Minister on the growing momentum in Pakistan-Qatar relations. Both sides expressed satisfaction over the steady progress in bilateral engagement and underscored the importance of translating political goodwill into expanded economic collaboration.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the need to significantly enhance bilateral trade volumes. He highlighted Pakistan’s interest in diversifying its exports to Qatar, particularly in agriculture, food products, and value-added goods. The Prime Minister noted that Pakistan possesses substantial potential in these sectors and encouraged greater market access and business-to-business linkages to unlock untapped opportunities.
The two sides also reviewed follow-up actions stemming from the sixth session of the Pakistan-Qatar Joint Ministerial Commission. They reaffirmed their resolve to ensure effective implementation of the decisions taken during the session, recognizing that sustained coordination is essential to achieving tangible outcomes in trade and investment cooperation.
SIFC Reforms Highlighted to Boost FDI
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif briefed the Qatari delegation on Pakistan’s investor-friendly reforms, aimed at improving the ease of doing business and facilitating foreign direct investment. He particularly highlighted the role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), which serves as a streamlined platform to accelerate major investment initiatives and remove bureaucratic bottlenecks. The Prime Minister stressed that the government remains committed to providing a transparent, predictable, and business-friendly environment for international investors.
Dr. Al Sayed reaffirmed Qatar’s keen interest in expanding economic engagement with Pakistan. He emphasized the importance of strengthening private-sector collaboration and promoting closer business partnerships between companies in both countries. He noted that enhanced connectivity between entrepreneurs and industry leaders would play a vital role in broadening trade and investment ties.
Focus on Investment, Exports, Industrial Cooperation with Qatar
Both sides agreed to convene a meeting of the joint task force during the holy month of Ramadan. The meeting will bring together relevant authorities from both countries to deliberate on concrete investment proposals, particularly focusing on Qatari investments in Pakistan. The initiative is expected to further institutionalize economic cooperation and identify priority sectors for collaboration.
The discussions concluded with a shared commitment to deepening trade, investment, and industrial cooperation between Pakistan and Qatar. Both sides reiterated their determination to build a robust and forward-looking economic partnership that benefits the people of both nations.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi were also present during the meeting.
