Bahraini FM: Bahrain Working to Speed Up Pakistan-GCC Free Trade Pact
- Bahrain and Pakistan are working to accelerate the approval of a free trade agreement between Islamabad and the Gulf Cooperation Council, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al...
- Al Zayani and Dar co-chaired the meetings, which covered more than 15 distinct sectors of bilateral cooperation.
- The two countries agreed to establish a new joint working group dedicated to trade and investment.
Bahrain and Pakistan are working to accelerate the approval of a free trade agreement between Islamabad and the Gulf Cooperation Council, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani announced on October 8, 2026, during a high-level visit to Islamabad. Meeting alongside Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Al Zayani stated that Bahrain holds the current GCC presidency and is actively pushing for the swift signing or approval of the long-awaited trade pact.
Joint Ministerial Commission Convenes in Islamabad
Al Zayani and Dar co-chaired the meetings, which covered more than 15 distinct sectors of bilateral cooperation.
The two countries agreed to establish a new joint working group dedicated to trade and investment. They also scheduled a separate meeting for next month focused specifically on oil, gas, and minerals within the energy sector.
Foreign Ministers Discuss Middle East and South Asia Security
Beyond economic pacts, the foreign ministers addressed critical security dynamics across the Middle East and South Asia. Al Zayani praised Pakistan for its support of United Nations Security Council resolutions condemning attacks on GCC nations and commended Islamabad for hosting the Islamabad Talks in April to facilitate US-Iran de-escalation, according to Dawn.
Both sides discussed ongoing threats to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab strait. Dar additionally raised concerns regarding India’s decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, asserting that the move breaches international law and threatens the water and food security of 250 million Pakistanis.
High-Level Meetings With Pakistani Leadership
During his two-day itinerary, Al Zayani held discussions with President Asif Ali Zardari at the President House, where the two leaders discussed expanding diaspora support and enhancing bilateral trade ties. President Zardari welcomed Bahrain’s recognition of Pakistan’s peace efforts and noted that over 134,000 Pakistani expatriates reside in the kingdom, acting as a living bridge between the two nations, Dawn reported. The Bahraini foreign minister also met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir to review defense cooperation and regional stability.
Fourth Ministerial Session Scheduled for 2027
The current bilateral exchanges mark the 55th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Bahrain, which will be officially observed on October 14, 2026. Looking ahead, Islamabad and Manama agreed to convene the fourth session of the Joint Ministerial Commission in Bahrain in 2027, maintaining an annual schedule to review progress on the GCC free trade agreement and expanded economic cooperation.