Bahrain Working to Speed Up Pak-GCC Trade Pact, Foreign Minister Says

Bahrain is working to speed up the formal approval of a pending free trade agreement between Pakistan and the Gulf Cooperation Council, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani announced. The push for expedited trade integration follows high-level bilateral meetings in Islamabad aimed at expanding economic ties to a $1 billion target.

Joint Ministerial Commission Convenes in Islamabad

The diplomatic push materialized during the third session of the Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Ministerial Commission held in Islamabad. Bahraini Foreign Minister Al Zayani co-chaired the discussions alongside Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. The two delegations evaluated more than 15 distinct fields of cooperation.

Bahrain currently holds the presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Utilizing this diplomatic standing, Al Zayani stated that Manama is actively working to accelerate the signing and final approval of the broader GCC-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, which was previously reported to be near finalization in late 2025.

During the meetings, both countries formally agreed to establish a new joint working group focused specifically on trade and investment. Officials scheduled a dedicated session of the joint working group on energy for the following month to address oil, gas, and mineral collaboration.

Pakistan Seeks to Increase Bilateral Trade with Bahrain

Deputy Prime Minister Dar emphasized the necessity of operationalizing these institutional mechanisms to ensure the effective implementation of decisions made during the ministerial sessions. Pakistan has maintained a stated goal of increasing bilateral trade with Bahrain to $1 billion.

In his address to the commission, Dar acknowledged external economic turbulence but expressed confidence that the impending GCC-Pakistan free trade pact would remove barriers for imports and exports. The Pakistani delegation also requested Bahraini assistance in recognizing professional qualifications and academic degrees to facilitate the mobility of skilled workers.

More than 140,000 Pakistani nationals reside and work in Bahrain, serving as a significant labor force contributing to the Gulf state’s ongoing development.

Regional Security and Diplomatic Alignment

Beyond commercial agreements, the ministerial talks addressed pressing regional security concerns. Al Zayani commended Pakistan for its diplomatic support at the United Nations Security Council, including Islamabad’s March backing of a resolution condemning attacks on GCC nations.

The foreign ministers discussed maritime security, emphasizing the need to protect commercial navigation and ensure the freedom of passage through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab.

The diplomatic exchanges coincide with the upcoming 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Bahrain, which the two nations are scheduled to mark on October 14.

Fourth Ministerial Session Planned for 2027

Looking ahead, Islamabad and Manama agreed to maintain annual ministerial dialogues, with plans already underway to convene the fourth session of the Joint Ministerial Commission in Bahrain in 2027.