Pak-Bahrain ties reaffirmed

Prime Minister of Pakistan has recently visited Bahrain to reaffirm the brethren ties with the brother country. Bahrain and Pakistan enjoy a long history of bilateral and cordial relations. The both countries understand the importance of each other in the regional and international affairs. The two countries have decided to strengthen their relations and recent visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and King Al-Khalifa of Bahrain’s visit to Pakistan in March 2014 is the manifestation of this resolve from both sides. Both countries are members of the OIC and of the G-77.
King Al-Khalifa, during his visit last year, discussed bilateral, regional and international matters of mutual interest. The two countries signed various agreements which include, establishment of joint ministerial commission for bilateral cooperation, agreement for promotion and protection of investment, cooperation in food security, air services agreement, cooperation between interior ministries and cooperation in the fields of power and water.
King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, on his first visit to Pakistan in 40 years expressed determination that the existing ‘political goodwill’ between Pakistan and Bahrain should be translated to strengthen economic and trade ties between the two countries. “Although we are new countries, we have been trading partners since 7,000 years when the Indus Valley Civilization had trade with Dilmun Civilization,” he said. Manama had a strong financial base and Bahrain’s private sector could invest in Pakistan.
The prime minister of Pakistan rightly said that Pakistan provided better investment environment and Bahraini investors should take this opportunity for best returns. “We would welcome Bahraini investments in mega projects in the field of energy, downstream oil industry, port development, mining and minerals, infrastructure, banking and financial sectors,” PM Sharif emphasized during his excellency’s visit in Pakistan.
At the invitation of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, paid an official visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain on 7-8 January 2015. During the visit of PM, following agreements were signed between two brotherly countries: 1) Agreement on exemption from short stay visa for diplomatic and special passport holders (Bahrain) and diplomatic and official passport holders (Pakistan) 2) MOU on Twinning of Islamabad and Manama 3) MOU in the Field of Education and Higher Education 4) MOU between the University of Bahrain and Quaid-i-Azam University 5) MOU on cooperation in the field of culture and arts 6) MOU on co-operation in the field of small and medium enterprises development.
In light of the existing close bilateral ties between the two countries, wide-ranging discussions were held in a sincere, friendly and candid atmosphere during PM Nawaz Sharif’s visit to the Kingdom. The discussions were focused on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest to further broaden and deepen bilateral engagement in all mutually beneficial fields. The leaders underscored the importance of this approach to provide impetus for promoting political and economic relations, tourism and people-to-people contacts.
The two sides expressed their satisfaction at the regular exchange of high-level visits during the recent years and recalled the substantive outcome of the successful State Visit of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on 18-20 March 2014, and agreed to follow up on the implementation of the agreements and the Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) signed during the visit.
Bahrain and Pakistan agreed on the need to encourage the private sector to participate in the establishment of a Pakistan Energy Fund. The prime minister conveyed deep appreciation on behalf of the people of Pakistan for the royal gesture to establish King Hamad University Hospital in Pakistan.
Both sides underscored the importance of continuing regular consultations through the existing institutional mechanisms and agreed to hold the inaugural meeting of the Bahrain-Pakistan Joint Ministerial Commission in Islamabad in 2015.
Recognizing the need to hold regular Foreign Ministry consultations, both sides decided that the first round of consultations would be held in 2015, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Consultations signed between the two foreign ministers on 20 December 2006.
The two sides stressed the importance of increasing defense and security cooperation between the two countries, and reiterated their desire to hold security dialogue annually between the two countries. They decided to increase sharing of information, intelligence and assessments.
Both sides denounced terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reaffirmed their desire to strengthen their cooperation, at both the bilateral and multilateral levels, in combating terrorism and financing of terrorism. Pakistan reaffirmed its support for measures taken by the government of the Kingdom of Bahrain in order to combat terrorism and maintain security and stability.
These visits will provide a good opportunity to explore ways and means to further strengthen cooperation in diverse areas of interest, particularly in expanding bilateral trade and enhancing investments in Pakistan. Such visits will give a new impetus to the existing fraternal bonds between the two countries.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has showed his firm resolve and determination to attract foreign investment in Pakistan and to bring the brotherly countries closer since he came into power. He has visited many countries for strengthening relations with various countries and his visit to Bahrain is one of his steps in this direction.
Economic indicators are also encouraging with Karachi stock exchange crossing the number of 33000 index recently. He has also reduced the petroleum prices significantly during last couple of months. Nawaz Sharif’s government is determined to serve the common man and its policies are the manifestation of this resolve. His resolve to eradicate the terrorism from its roots will also help in making conducive atmosphere for the investors.