Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bangladesh signaled a coordinated push to reset bilateral relations on Sunday, as senior leaders from both sides underscored trade, connectivity, youth exchanges, and regional cooperation following Bangladesh&rsquo;s democratic transition.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a phone conversation with his Bangladeshi counterpart, newly-appointed Khalil ur Rahman, with both sides expressing a desire to strengthen ties &ldquo;with a shared vision of peace, stability, and prosperity,&rdquo; according to Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office.&nbsp;&ldquo;Both leaders agreed to expand cooperation across multiple sectors and build a forward-looking partnership for the people of Pakistan and Bangladesh,&rdquo; the official statement said.&nbsp;The diplomatic engagement follows Bangladesh&rsquo;s first competitive election since the 2024 uprising, which brought Tarique Rahman to office at the head of a Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led government with a commanding parliamentary majority, marking a decisive shift after years of political unrest and strained regional ties.&nbsp;Momentum was reinforced in Dhaka, where Pakistan&rsquo;s Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal attended the oath-taking ceremony and held meetings with Bangladesh&rsquo;s new leadership and opposition figures, representing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.&nbsp;&ldquo;I am here to represent the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the people of Pakistan at a very historic moment when Bangladesh is making a democratic transition and a new government is being sworn in,&rdquo; Iqbal said, adding that PM Sharif &ldquo;would very much like to visit Bangladesh as early as possible.&rdquo;&nbsp;In his meeting with Bangladeshi prime minister, Iqbal conveyed formal congratulations and extended an invitation for an official visit to Pakistan, describing Bangladesh&rsquo;s peaceful transfer of power as &ldquo;an important milestone for democratic stability.&rdquo;&nbsp;Rahman, in turn, welcomed Pakistan&rsquo;s goodwill and committed to &ldquo;constructive and future-oriented relations.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;We emphasized that Pakistan and Bangladesh are emerging economies with youthful populations,&rdquo; Iqbal said. &ldquo;By investing in skills, entrepreneurship and the digital economy, youth can become a driving force for development.&rdquo;&nbsp;Iqbal said bilateral trade remains &ldquo;far below potential,&rdquo; calling for urgent efforts to expand commerce, integrate supply chains and enhance maritime connectivity through coastal ports. He said both sides discussed creating synergy in industrial capacity, small and medium enterprises, and export strategies to improve access to global value chains.&nbsp;Alongside high-level political outreach, Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic mission in Dhaka has stepped up engagement with Bangladesh&rsquo;s new foreign policy leadership. Pakistan&rsquo;s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Khalil ur Rahman, congratulating him on assuming office and briefing him on recent developments in bilateral relations.&nbsp;According to the Pakistan High Commission, Haider highlighted positive momentum across education, connectivity, trade, agriculture and health, as well as the activation of bilateral institutional mechanisms. Rahman welcomed the briefing, expressed satisfaction at the progress achieved, and emphasized the importance of exploring new avenues to further expand and deepen cooperation. Both sides also exchanged views on collaboration at multilateral forums.&nbsp;The high commissioner separately met Bangladesh&rsquo;s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, congratulating her on assuming office and noting that Pakistan-Bangladesh relations are rooted in shared history, cultural affinities and people-to-people ties.&nbsp;Islam welcomed the engagement and stressed the need to enhance cooperation across all domains to realize the full potential of bilateral relations. Both sides agreed to strengthen ties guided by a forward-looking approach, mutual respect and sovereign equality.&nbsp;At the conclusion of talks with PM Rahman during Iqbal&#39;s Dhaka tour, both sides reaffirmed their resolve to translate goodwill into tangible outcomes, agreeing on the need to revitalize the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and to advance South Asia through geo-economics rather than geopolitics.&nbsp;&ldquo;South Asia remains among the least integrated regions in the world,&rdquo; Iqbal said. &ldquo;Through improved connectivity and trade facilitation, Pakistan and Bangladesh can open new avenues of shared prosperity for the region.&rdquo;

Bangladesh

Bangladeshi foreign minister engages Pakistan through a phone call and a Dhaka meeting with the high commissioner, reaffirming momentum for expanded cooperation, connectivity and forward-looking bilateral relations.

Pakistan, Bangladesh move to reset ties after Dhaka transition

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday said Pakistan&rsquo;s mineral exports could rise to $6-8 billion annually within the decade if the country shifts from raw extraction to value-added production, highlighting China&rsquo;s role as central to this transformation. Addressing the Pak-China Mineral Cooperation Forum in Islamabad, Iqbal said Pakistan aims to develop mineral processing plants, smelters, refineries, and mineral-based industrial clusters linked to Special Economic Zones. He said Islamabad was seeking joint ventures capable of serving regional and global markets, not just domestic demand.<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-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2016442560554926421&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=739439a1ad756df616edae99b290ba9ad91eaf16&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 646px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> &ldquo;The transformation of Pakistan&rsquo;s mineral economy cannot happen without strategic partners, and China&rsquo;s role is central,&rdquo; he said, adding that future cooperation should focus on technology, innovation, human capital development, and long-term partnerships. The minister reiterated that the security of Chinese nationals and investments remained a top national priority. Referring to the second phase of the China&ndash;Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said it was aimed at turning connectivity into productivity, exports, jobs, and sustainable growth. He expressed hope that the next phase would help modernize Pakistan&rsquo;s agriculture, industry, and technological capacity, enabling export-led growth. Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik said Pakistan, with China&rsquo;s support, was positioning itself as a reliable long-term partner in the global mineral supply chain.&nbsp; He invited Chinese companies, service providers, and equipment suppliers to deepen their engagement in Pakistan&rsquo;s mineral sector, saying closer cooperation could help build mutually beneficial partnerships for both countries. Gwadar as a global trade hub At a separate occasion, Iqbal reaffirmed his commitment to turning Gwadar into a global trade hub, &nbsp;state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported. A seminar and exhibition titled &ldquo;Gwadar: Modern Coastal City 2026&rdquo; was held on Wednesday, aimed at promoting <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/large-pod-of-bottlenose-dolphins-spotted-in-gwadar-says-wwfpakistan" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gwadar</a> as a modern, sustainable, and world-class coastal and trade city. Experts, policymakers, investors, representatives of educational institutions, and business executives from both Pakistan and abroad participated in the seminar. <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-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 921px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2016210954820977042&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fsections%2F&sessionId=1df853bb93a9594bd4a1433515b76d3755244cc3&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;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>In his address as the chief guest, the minister described the industrial and commercial development of <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-trkiye-explore-ferry-service-and-maritime-partnership" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gwadar Port</a> as a national priority. He said that Gwadar is no longer just a port but is becoming a strategic route connecting Pakistan to the global trade system. Center of modern infrastructure&nbsp;The federal minister said that the government is implementing an integrated strategy to make Gwadar a center of modern infrastructure, industry, trade, logistics, and tourism. He emphasized that the primary purpose of Gwadar&rsquo;s development is to provide the local population with employment, education, health, water, and electricity, so that the benefits of development reach the common citizen. During the seminar, discussions were held on important topics such as policymaking, investment opportunities, port security, regional connectivity, environmentally friendly development, and sustainable urban planning. The speakers agreed that the development of Gwadar would play a key role in advancing Pakistan&rsquo;s economic sovereignty and boosting exports. Global connectivityOn this occasion, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed said that Gwadar is emerging as a strategic center for trade, port-based economy, and global connectivity in the region, with the potential to link Central Asia, the Middle East, and South Asia. Managing Director of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, Aftabur Rehman Rana, highlighted Gwadar&rsquo;s tourism potential in his address, saying that coastal tourism, cultural heritage, and natural beauty could give Gwadar a prominent position on the global tourism map. Scholars who spoke at the event included Dr Muhammad Jamil Ahmed, who said that Gwadar Port has full potential to become a center for regional trade, logistics, and transit trade, which could give Pakistan a competitive edge in the region. Dr Hasan Dawood Butt, highlighting Gwadar&rsquo;s industrial potential and Special Economic Zones, said that investment in industrial zones would create new employment opportunities and could significantly increase exports. Dean of the National University of Sciences and Technology, Dr Ashfaq Hasan Khan, emphasized in his speech that the social and economic development of the local population should be central to Gwadar&rsquo;s growth to ensure sustainable, inclusive development. At the end of the seminar, participants called it a key milestone for Pakistan&rsquo;s economic growth, regional links, and future plans, and showed their dedication to ongoing collaboration to make Gwadar a world-class, modern coastal city.

Economy

Federal planning minister Ahsan Iqbal highlighted value-added mining with Chinese partnership, security assurances, and CPEC phase two goals; separately, discussions focused on Gwadar’s industrial, logistical, and tourism development, emphasizing infrastructure, regional connectivity, and export-led growth.

Articles tagged with "Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal"

Pakistan, Bangladesh move to reset ties after Dhaka transition

Pakistan reiterates mineral export boost, eyes Gwadar as trade hub