DHAKA – In a significant push to enhance regional economic cooperation, Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan met with Bangladesh’s Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan in Dhaka on Wednesday. The high-level meeting highlighted untapped opportunities for collaboration and signaled renewed diplomatic warmth between the two South Asian nations.
During the detailed discussions, the two sides identified food security, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, leather, shipbuilding, sugar, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as key sectors where mutual expertise and investment could pave the way for robust economic ties.
Minister Jam Kamal expressed Pakistan’s readiness to deepen engagement, emphasizing the importance of joint ventures, technology transfer, and knowledge-sharing. Adviser Adilur Rahman, in response, stressed the need for collaborative innovation to modernize industries and boost regional trade competitiveness.
The talks also advanced proposals to finalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and Pakistan Halal Authority to strengthen standards cooperation. A Joint Working Group dedicated to the sugar industry was also agreed upon, signaling actionable steps beyond diplomatic rhetoric.
Officials revealed that Bangladesh is preparing to revive the Joint Economic Commission and establish a Trade and Investment Commission, two mechanisms designed to institutionalize bilateral cooperation. Dhaka also requested Islamabad to review its anti-dumping duties on hydrogen peroxide and to reinstate duty-free tea quotas — moves seen as critical to easing trade barriers.
Jam Kamal’s ongoing four-day visit, which runs until August 24, includes high-level meetings, industry site visits, and engagements with business leaders. He is scheduled to tour Chittagong Port, pharmaceutical facilities, and a steel plant to explore new avenues of collaboration. Several MoUs covering trade, investment, culture, training, and travel are expected to be signed during the visit.
Diplomatic analysts view this renewed outreach as part of a broader realignment in Pakistan–Bangladesh relations, with direct trade channels reopening, bilateral flights under consideration, and visa processes becoming more streamlined. These steps reflect a pragmatic shift towards economic diplomacy and regional integration.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.