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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Australia concluded a negotiation round aimed at modernizing the 1998 Pakistan-Australia Bilateral Investment Treaty, Pakistan&#39;s Press Information Department (PID) said on Thursday. Delegations from both countries held what officials described as positive and constructive discussions on the initial articles of a prospective updated treaty.&nbsp; The Board of Investment also posted on X, saying Federal Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh successfully concluded the Islamabad round of negotiations.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1991537767390801942&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=d6d2d4c403a999303df7ed851e078b533bab2e3b&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The prospective treaty seeks to establish a &quot;modern, balanced, and forward-looking treaty framework&quot; that promotes investment flows while safeguarding the legitimate interests of both countries, PID said. Federal Minister for the Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, who led Pakistan&rsquo;s side, reaffirmed the government&rsquo;s commitment to ensuring an investment climate aligned with global best practices.&nbsp; He highlighted Pakistan&#39;s new phase of &quot;investment policy reforms aimed at promoting transparency, boosting investor confidence and expanding long-term economic cooperation with international partners,&quot; according to PID&#39;s official statement. &quot;Pakistan&rsquo;s determination to foster sustainable investment partnerships, increase investor protection, and expand opportunities in key sectors including energy, mining, technology, agriculture, and industrial development,&quot; he said.&nbsp; Treaty to support increased investment flowsUnder the government&rsquo;s strategic direction, Pakistan is committed to diversifying investment avenues and collaborating with global partners to accelerate economic growth, said Sheikh. The minister commended the contributions of both negotiating teams and expressed confidence that modernizing the treaty will support increased investment flows, deeper commercial cooperation, and a mutually beneficial economic partnership. The Board of Investment said it remains committed to promoting investment and strengthening bilateral ties while supporting domestic and foreign investors in line with Pakistan&rsquo;s economic development objectives.

Federal Minister for Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh concluded the Islamabad round of Pakistan–Australia Bilateral Investment Treaty negotiations in Islamabad on 20th November, 2025 (PID).

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan and Australia concluded an in-person negotiation round in Islamabad to modernize the 1998 Pakistan-Australia Bilateral Investment Treaty.

Pakistan, Australia investment treaty nears finalization

<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> </div></div>ISLAMABAD: In a landmark development during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif&#39;s state visit to Riyadh, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a &ldquo;Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement&rdquo; on Wednesday, the statement from the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office said, declaring that any act of aggression against either country would be considered an attack on both.&nbsp; &nbsp;PM Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a historic agreement at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh. The agreement, anchored in decades of brotherly relations and shared security interests, aims to bolster joint defense mechanisms and create a united front against external aggression.&nbsp;&ldquo;Any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both,&rdquo; the agreement declares.&nbsp;The announcement came during Sharif&rsquo;s visit to the Kingdom, where he was received with full state honors, including a 21-gun salute, an F-15 fighter jet escort, and a ceremonial welcome in the Saudi capital.<div class="fr-embed" style="line-height: 2;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nqvlwE2tfU8?si=BGeNa_wcGUFmu6LL" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div>&nbsp;During bilateral talks, both sides emphasized the importance of enhancing defense cooperation, securing regional peace, and maintaining strategic coordination amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. In a post on X, the Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman said that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were standing &quot;side by side against the aggressor. Always and forever.&quot;&nbsp; This visit follows a recent emergency Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha, where PM Sharif and the Saudi crown prince met to discuss Israel&rsquo;s expanding military operations, including recent attacks on Iran and Qatar. The two leaders reaffirmed their shared vision for a stable Islamic world and a just resolution to ongoing conflicts.&nbsp;Since taking office, Sharif has visited Saudi Arabia multiple times, reflecting the deepening economic, political, and military partnership between the two countries. Last year, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed MoUs worth $2.8 billion aimed at boosting private-sector collaboration.&nbsp;At the conclusion of the visit, PM Sharif thanked the Saudi leadership for their warm hospitality and reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s unwavering commitment to its &ldquo;most trusted brotherly nation.&rdquo; <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1968593885619188071&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F335%2F&sessionId=1af93c8dd39914b28d859052841b717f532bcba5&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 923px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="isPasted">Later in the day on Thursday, according to a post on government of Pakistan&#39;s X account, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation was escorted by Riyadh&#39;s deputy governor Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Bin Abdul Aziz to the airport.&nbsp; <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The premier and his delegation bid farewell to the Saudi delegation for a successful visit and departed for London from Riyadh.

Saudi defense minister says Saudi Arabia, Pakistan are standing "side by side against the aggressor. Always and forever." 

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Attack on one is attack on both: Pakistan, Saudi sign joint defense pact

ISLAMABAD: Qatar&rsquo;s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived in Amman on Wednesday for an official visit to Jordan, shortly after an Israeli airstrike hit a residential area in Doha on September 9, &nbsp;an act Qatar condemned as a violation of its sovereignty.&nbsp;The emir was warmly received by King Abdullah II, Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah, and senior Jordanian officials at the airport. The two leaders held formal talks at Basman Palace, where they discussed ways to deepen bilateral ties and expand cooperation in political, economic, and regional matters.&nbsp;According to a statement from Qatar&rsquo;s foreign ministry, King Abdullah II welcomed the Emir and hailed the visit as a step toward further strengthening &quot;the fraternal relations and fruitful cooperation between the two nations.&quot; He expressed hope that Qatar-Jordan ties would continue to develop for the benefit of both peoples.&nbsp;In response, Emir Tamim expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and reaffirmed Qatar&rsquo;s commitment to its partnership with Jordan.&nbsp;Notably, King Abdullah expressed Jordan&rsquo;s full solidarity with Qatar following the Israeli strike on its capital, calling it a &quot;treacherous attack&quot; and voicing support for Qatar&rsquo;s right to defend its sovereignty. He also praised Doha&rsquo;s continued efforts to promote regional and international peace and stability.&nbsp;Qatar and Jordan share deep-rooted diplomatic, cultural, and economic ties, with both nations often working together on issues of regional security, Palestinian rights, and cooperation within the Arab League and Islamic world.

Middle East

Qatari Emir arrived in Jordan for an official visit shortly after Israel’s strikes in Doha.

Articles tagged with "Bilateral"

Pakistan, Australia investment treaty nears finalization

Attack on one is attack on both: Pakistan, Saudi sign joint defense pact

Qatar emir visits Jordan amid tensions after Israeli strike on Doha