PM Shehbaz, Qatari Commerce Minister review bilateral economic cooperation in Doha

DOHA:

Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed visited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his official visit to Doha on Tuesday. Dr. Al-Sayed also serves as Chairman of the Pakistan-Qatar Joint Business Working Group.

During the meeting, the two sides reviewed bilateral trade and economic cooperation and expressed satisfaction over the growing momentum in Pakistan-Qatar relations. The prime minister emphasized the importance of improving bilateral trade volumes and diversifying Pakistan’s exports to Qatar, particularly in agricultural products, food and value-added goods.

Both sides also discussed the follow-up to the sixth session of the Pakistan-Qatar Joint Ministerial Commission and reaffirmed their commitment to implement the agreed decisions. The Prime Minister further highlighted Pakistan’s investment-friendly reforms and the role of Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in facilitating foreign investment.

Dr. Al-Sayed reiterated Qatar’s interest in expanding economic cooperation and strengthening trade and private sector ties between the two countries. The two sides agreed to convene a meeting of the working group, comprising relevant officials of both countries, within the month of Ramadan, to discuss concrete investment proposals for Qatar’s investments in Pakistan.

The meeting underlined the shared determination to further deepen trade, investment and industrial collaboration between Pakistan and Qatar.

Read: Prime Minister arrives in Doha amid regional tensions

Also present in the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi.

Prime Minister Shehbaz arrived in Doha on Monday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. This is the Prime Minister’s third visit to Qatar in the last five months, underscoring the growing strategic importance of ties between Islamabad and Doha.

He had traveled to Doha twice in September: first to express solidarity with Qatar following the Israeli attacks and then to attend the Arab-Islamic summit held in the Qatari capital.

The latest trip comes against the backdrop of a series of major regional developments, particularly on Pakistan’s western border.