MM Report
MANAMA: President Asif Ali Zardari met King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain in Manama on Wednesday for talks aimed at strengthening the long-standing fraternal ties between the two countries.
The discussions reflected a shared resolve to deepen cooperation and give practical momentum to bilateral engagement. The king conferred upon him the Order of Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa First Class, Bahrain’s highest award, in recognition of his contribution to strengthening Pakistan-Bahrain relations. The president also recorded his remarks in the palace visitors’ book.
The president first held a one-on-one meeting with King Hamad, reviewing the overall state of Pakistan-Bahrain relations and expressing satisfaction over their positive trajectory. The leaders then held an extended session focused on trade and investment. He emphasized Pakistan’s desire to translate strong political relations into deeper economic engagement.
President Zardari invited Bahraini investors to explore opportunities in priority sectors including agriculture and food security, IT and digital services, healthcare, tourism, and infrastructure. He highlighted the role of Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council in supporting foreign investors.
Zardari underlined Bahrain’s importance as an economic partner and expressed confidence that closer collaboration could unlock mutually beneficial opportunities. He highlighted Pakistan’s economic potential, connectivity, and skilled workforce, and encouraged joint ventures to promote sustainable growth.
The president also highlighted the long-standing defence and security cooperation between the two countries, describing it as a pillar of the bilateral relationship. He noted close institutional linkages between the armed forces of Pakistan and Bahrain and reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire to strengthen this partnership further.
