President Zardari reaches Bahrain on four-day visit

President Asif Ali Zardari has reached Manama on Tuesday for a four-day visit to Bahrain which is aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two nations in trade, defense and security, state media reported. 

Zardari is leading a high-level delegation during his visit to Bahrain, foreign ministry said. The president will hold talks with King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa and Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa during his visit on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Pakistan enjoys cordial relations with all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including Bahrain. Islamabad and Manama established diplomatic ties in October 1971 after the Gulf country gained independence. 

The trade volume between the two countries in recent years has ranged between $500 million to around $1 billion, according to Pakistan’s foreign ministry. Major exports from Pakistan to Bahrain include meat, vegetables, rice, tobacco and textile. Imports from Bahrain, on the other hand, include petroleum products, ferrous wastes and scrape and aluminum.