Highlights
- Bangladesh and Pakistan held their 9th Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting after 20 years.
- Pakistan agreed to allow Bangladesh to use Karachi Port.
- Bangladesh requested duty-free and quota-free access for its products in Pakistani markets.
- Discussions included cooperation in agriculture, halal food, IT, and maritime transport.
- Pakistan proposed 500 new scholarships for Bangladeshi students and expressed interest in opening a university campus in Bangladesh.
A Renewed Step Toward Economic Cooperation
After two decades, Bangladesh and Pakistan have held their 9th Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting in Dhaka, aiming to strengthen bilateral trade and economic ties. The long-awaited meeting took place on Monday (October 27) at the Planning Commission in Agargaon, Dhaka.
“নিজের ব্যবসার জন্য এখন নিজের ওয়েবসাইট — মাত্র কয়েক মিনিটে Storola দিয়ে!”
Pakistan Grants Access to Karachi Port
One of the key outcomes of the meeting was Pakistan’s agreement to let Bangladesh use Karachi Port for trade and transportation. Meanwhile, Bangladesh sought duty-free and quota-free access for its products in Pakistan’s market to expand exports.
Discussions on Trade, Research, and Technology
During the three-hour meeting, both countries discussed several potential agreements in areas like agricultural research, halal food industry, information technology, and maritime transport.
“ব্যবসায়ী, ক্যারিয়ার বিল্ডার বা মার্কেটার—সবার জন্য এক রোডম্যাপ ! বিস্তারিত জানতে ক্লিক করুন..”
After the meeting, Bangladesh’s Economic Advisor Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed and Pakistan’s Minister of Energy Ali Parvez Malik briefed the media about the discussions.
Educational and Technical Cooperation
According to the Economic Relations Division (ERD) of Bangladesh, Pakistan proposed to offer 500 new scholarships for Bangladeshi students.
The country also showed interest in establishing a university campus in Bangladesh.
Additionally, Pakistan wants to participate in international tenders related to security printing — including banknotes, prize bonds, and other secure documents — by providing security ink and technical training in the banking sector.
Delegates and Representation
The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, Economic Advisor to the Bangladesh Government, and Ahad Khan Cheema, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs.
Bangladesh was represented by a 16-member delegation led by Dr. Salehuddin.
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Growing Ties After Political Change
Sources at the ERD mentioned that since Bangladesh’s political changes in August 2024, the relationship between the two countries has seen significant improvement. Several senior Pakistani officials have visited Bangladesh recently, further strengthening bilateral engagement.
Future Cooperation Plans
During the meeting, both nations agreed to deepen economic relations and present joint proposals based on mutual interests. These efforts are expected to mark a new chapter in Bangladesh-Pakistan cooperation, focusing on shared growth and trade expansion.
Source: Daily Ittefaq
