Free trade agreement with Gulf states soon, says PM Shehbaz

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan was ready to convert its longstanding ties with Bahrain into a broad economic partnership, adding a free trade agreement between Pakistan and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will be signed very soon, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The prime minister maintained that the free trade agreement (FTA) will help enhance trade between Pakistan and the GCC-member countries particularly with Bahrain.

Addressing the business community in Manama on Thursday, PM Shehbaz Sharif said his government is ready to support joint ventures, facilitate investment plans and assist in mutually rewarding journey of progress.

He asked the Bahrain leadership and businessmen to come forward and work together and make Pakistani's economy particularly, industry, agriculture, IT and Fintech sectors more vibrant.

Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan and Bahrain are two brotherly countries and our decades old relations are based on culture, religion, mutual respect and trust. He said we have also decades old strategic cooperation as well and now we have to transform these relations into more vibrant economic cooperation.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan is ready to enhance economic cooperation with brotherly country Bahrain in all areas of mutual interest including agriculture, IT, AI and Fintech.  

“It is equally heartening to see our vibrant Pakistani community of over 100,000 in Bahrain, which continues to bring honour to our nation. The more I learn of their journeys, the more convinced I become that Pakistani identity is not bound by geography. It lives in the heart of… pic.twitter.com/AqAcB6VIVh

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) November 27, 2025

The Prime Minister also extended his gratitude to the Bahrain leadership including the King, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Crown Prince and the Foreign Minister for unwavering commitment towards Pakistan saying that our meetings with them remained extremely productive.

Shehbaz Sharif also praised and saluted to the most vibrant Pakistani community living in Bahrain for their hard work and unflinching resolve and dedication towards the development of Pakistan and Bahrain.

He said the Pakistani community living in Bahrain dispatched their hard-earned money and remittances of worth 484 million dollars during the last financial year which are highly commendable.

The Prime Minister expressed his profound gratitude to the leadership of Bahrain particularly the King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa for extending gracious and warm hospitality to him and his delegation during the two day visit to Bahrain.

Earlier in his welcoming remarks, Bahrain's Minister for Finance and National Economy, Shaikh Salman Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation for visiting the State of Bahrain.

The Minister appreciated the role of Pakistani diaspora and financial institutions in development and progress of Bahrain. He said the whole region is witnessing a generational transformation and becoming a center of innovation, sustainability and technological excellence.

Highlighting the leading transformational role of Bahrain in modern and emerging technologies, the Minister offered huge investment opportunities for Pakistani business and tech companies in multiple sectors including artificial intelligence, cyber security, metals, automotive components, electronics and other advanced technologies.

"I am not a visitor here. I have come here to meet my family members, our Bahraini brothers and sisters. This is what our relationship is all about. Now we have to convert these wonderful relations into economic cooperation.

I'd like to mention that Pakistan has great youth… pic.twitter.com/kJThkTB2u0

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) November 27, 2025