ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday held a series of meetings in Doha to boost trade, investment, and private-sector engagement with Qatar, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Earlier in the day, Sharif met Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed, who also serves as chairman of the Pakistan-Qatar Joint Business Task Force.
The two sides reviewed bilateral trade and economic cooperation and expressed satisfaction over the growing momentum in Pakistan-Qatar relations. PM Sharif highlighted the importance of increasing trade volume and diversifying Pakistan’s exports to Qatar, particularly in agricultural products, food items, and value-added goods.
Both sides reviewed follow-up to the sixth Pakistan-Qatar Joint Ministerial Commission meeting and agreed to implement its decisions.
The prime minister also discussed Pakistan’s investment-friendly reforms and the role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in facilitating foreign investment. Dr. Al Sayed said Qatar seeks to expand economic cooperation and strengthen private-sector ties with Pakistan. They agreed to meet a joint task force during Ramadan to review Qatari investment proposals, according to the PMO.
Later Tuesday, PM Sharif welcomed a delegation from the Qatar Businessmen Association (QBA) led by the Chairman of the QBA, Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani. The prime minister praised the QBA’s role in strengthening commercial linkages and focused private-sector engagement as a key pillar of the bilateral partnership, according to the PMO.
PM Sharif invited QBA members to explore investment opportunities in infrastructure, logistics, energy, agriculture, technology, and export-oriented manufacturing, highlighting Pakistan’s improving macroeconomic indicators and reforms.
He also stated the SIFC was a one-window platform for transparent, efficient, and timely investment decision-making.
Sheikh Faisal expressed interest in enhancing business-to-business cooperation and exploring investment opportunities in Pakistan. Both sides agreed to maintain close engagement, including during the upcoming task force visit to Doha later this month and the hosting of business forums, to translate discussions into concrete economic partnerships.
The meeting also focused on facilitating linkages between businesses and entrepreneurs in both countries to strengthen private-sector collaboration. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further expand trade and investment ties through strengthened cooperation.
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 attended both meetings.
PM Sharif is also scheduled to meet the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the Prime Minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani to further strengthen bilateral relations.
He is expected to meet Qatar’s deputy prime minister and minister of state for defense affairs, as well as the minister of foreign trade, according to the PMO.
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