Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said that once the Pakistan-GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) Free Trade Agreement come into effect, the existing bilateral trade volume of USD 1 billion per annum had the potential to enhance manifold.
Islamabad: PM hopeful of Pak-Gulf trade to surpass $1 bn. The prime minister expressed these views during a meeting with the Commander of the National Guard of the Kingdom of Bahrain General Sheikh Mohammad Bin Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa who called on him to convey the greetings of King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
The prime minister warmly welcomed General Sheikh Mohammad to Pakistan and thanked the Bahrain leadership for their messages of felicitations on his re-election as prime minister, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
The situation in Gaza was also discussed and both sides called for an immediate ceasefire and ensuring urgent provision of humanitarian assistance to the innocent Palestinians, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.
The two countries had excellent defence cooperation, and his visit would enhance these relations even further, the prime minister said, adding Pakistan and Bahrain enjoyed longstanding brotherly relations.
He referred to the King Hamad Nursing Hospital that was under construction in Islamabad and said the flagship project was the King’s gift to the people of Pakistan.
Recalling the visit of King Hamad in 2014, the prime minister said Pakistan looked forward to hosting him once again shortly.
In response, General Sheikh Mohammed extended an invitation to the prime minister to visit Bahrain at his earliest convenience.
PM reaffirms to ensure timely implementation of CPEC initiatives
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday emphasised that his government would work tirelessly to ensure timely implementation of the initiatives under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
He stressed that Pakistan was keen to move to the next phase of CPEC, including operationalisation of the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to facilitate Chinese investment in Pakistan.
The prime minister was talking to Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China Jiang Zaidong who called on him at the Prime Minister’s House, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Dr. Ahsan Iqbal, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi and the foreign secretary also attended the meeting.
The prime minister said the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) had been created during his previous tenure to attract foreign investment in priority sectors including agriculture, IT, minerals and renewable energy.
He said Chinese companies would find many profitable opportunities in Pakistan.
The prime minister thanked President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang for their warm messages of greetings on his re-election and assumption of office.
He reciprocated the warm sentiments expressed by the Chinese leadership and lauded their contribution and commitment to the strengthening of the iron-clad friendship between Pakistan and China.
The Chinese Ambassador reaffirmed that the Chinese leadership and government was looking forward to further deepening of Pakistan-China friendship.
In this regard, he reiterated the invitation extended to the prime minister to undertake an official visit to China at his earliest convenience.
While accepting the invitation, the prime minister said that he would undertake the visit at a mutually convenient date that would be worked out through diplomatic channels.
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