‘Let’s make our warm relations warmer’: Sharif to Bahraini counterpart

0
127

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that Pakistan was keen to work with Bahrain to improve mutual economic relations that reflect the warmth that exists in bilateral relations between the two countries.

“There is immense scope for expanding the existing volume of bilateral trade between the two countries which currently stands at $200 million,” he said while leading the Pakistan delegation in talks with Bahrain held here at the Gudabiya Palace.

The Bahraini delegation was led by Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa.

Prime Minister Sharif, who also held a one-on-one meeting with Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa before the delegation level talks, expressed his gratitude to the Bahrain government for extending a warm welcome to the Pakistani delegation.

He said that Pakistan and Bahrain share common points of view on many regional and international issues and have an exemplary record of close cooperation with each other at the UN, and other international forums.

The Prime Minister said he regarded Pakistan as an attractive investment destination because of the government’s liberal investment policy and high rate of return.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan welcomes investment from Bahrain, particularly in the energy sector, including hydropower, coal, oil and gas.

He emphasized on the need to reactivate the Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Business Council, which was established in 2007.

The Prime Minister thanked the government of Bahrain for the condolences they sent during the Peshawar tragedy.

After the talks the two prime misters witnesses the signing of an agreement between the two countries on the Exemption from Short Stay Visa for holders of Diplomatic and official passports.

They also witnessed the signing of five MoUs, which included: Between the University of Bahrain and Quaid-e-Azam University; 2) Between the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Bahrain and Ministry of Commerce of Pakistan, for cooperation for the development of small and medium enterprises;  3) In the field of culture and arts; 4) Cooperation in the field of Education and Higher Education; 5) On twinning of Islamabad and Manama Capital of Bahrain.

In addition, the prime minister handed over the Instrument of Ratification of the Agreement for the Promotion and Protection of Investments to his Bahraini counterpart.

Later, the Bahraini prime minister also hosted lunch in honour of the Pakistani delegation.