Dhaka, Islamabad agree to enhance ties in trade, IT, agriculture and energy
First Bangladesh-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission met after 20 years
Dhaka: Bangladesh and Pakistan have agreed to strengthen cooperation in key sectors including trade, agriculture, information technology, energy, pharmaceuticals, and connectivity during the 9th meeting of the Bangladesh-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission (JEC) held in Dhaka on Monday.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the JEC meeting, held at the NEC Conference Room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, marked the first such engagement between the two countries since 2005, signifying a major step towards reviving bilateral and regional economic cooperation. Bangladesh Finance Adviser, Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, and Pakistan’s Minister for Petroleum, Ali Pervaiz Malik, led their respective delegations.
Senior officials from both sides representing ministries of trade, commerce, agriculture, information technology, aviation, and maritime affairs participated in the meeting.
Speaking to the media, Dr. Salehuddin said the dialogue covered diverse areas aimed at improving livelihoods and regional connectivity. “After 20 years, we’ve resumed our economic dialogue with Pakistan, and it has been very successful. We discussed cooperation in agriculture, IT, food, maritime transport, and other areas that can benefit both nations,” he stated.
He emphasized that Bangladesh seeks not only stronger bilateral ties but also wider regional collaboration, adding that focal points will be set up in relevant ministries to follow up on key areas.
Pakistan’s Minister for Petroleum, Ali Pervaiz Malik, lauded the resumption of the JEC as “a significant milestone” after two decades, noting that the meeting helped identify several areas of mutual benefit. “We want to build on this positive momentum for the prosperity of our peoples,” he said.
Malik stressed the need to increase the current trade volume — which stands at less than one billion dollars — by exploring new opportunities in agriculture, power, and energy sectors. “Pakistan will continue importing from Bangladesh and expand cooperation beyond traditional sectors like jute,” he added.
The Pakistani minister also highlighted ongoing high-level exchanges between the two countries, expressing optimism that the renewed engagement would pave the way for deeper economic and political cooperation.
Both sides agreed to continue working towards expanding trade and investment opportunities, operationalizing agreed areas of cooperation, and ensuring measurable progress before the next JEC session.
The Joint Economic Commission serves as a key bilateral forum to strengthen collaboration between Bangladesh and Pakistan in trade, investment, agriculture, energy, and technology. The revival of the platform in 2025 reflects both nations’ renewed commitment to regional economic integration.
