Pakistan FM arrives in Dhaka to boost co-op, set to meet Yunus, Touhid tomorrow during 'historic' visit
He landed in the capital around 2pm on a special flight.
Highlights
- Pakistan FM Ishaq Dar begins first Dhaka visit in 13 years
- To meet Chief Adviser Yunus, Touhid Hossain, Bashir Uddin
- Up to five MoUs expected on trade, culture, media, training, travel
- Talks on lifting anti-dumping duties and boosting market access
- Direct flights planned as Fly Jinnah approved for Dhaka-Karachi
- Dar meets Jamaat and NCP delegations after arrival
Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar arrived in Dhaka this afternoon (23 August) on a two-day official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, marking the first state visit to Bangladesh in 13 years.
He landed in the capital around 2pm on a special flight.
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According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam received Dar at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, alongside Pakistan's High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Pakistan Muhammad Iqbal Khan, officials of Pakistan High Commission and other senior Bangladeshi officials.
The release added, "During the visit, the deputy prime minister will hold important meetings with the Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, and Commerce Adviser SK Bashir Uddin.
"Discussions will encompass the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation including regional and international issues of mutual interest."
The ministry also said Dar arrived in Dhaka today "on a landmark official visit from 23-24 August" on the invitation of Bangladesh's government.
Earlier today, the foreign ministry wrote on X that Dar embarked on a "historic visit to Bangladesh" as the deputy premier departed from the Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi. "In Dhaka, he will hold important meetings with Bangladeshi leaders," it added.
"The visit is a significant milestone in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations as a Pakistani foreign minister is visiting Bangladesh after a gap of around 13 years," the ministry highlighted.
According to an official of the Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Adviser Md Touhid Hossain is scheduled to hold official talks with the visiting deputy premier and foreign minister tomorrow morning at the state guest house Padma in the capital, reports BSS.
The discussions are expected to culminate in the signing of four to five memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to boost cooperation in trade, culture, media, training, and travel sectors, the official added.
Following the talks and the signing ceremony, Touhid will brief the media.
Visiting Pakistan's Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan is also expected to join the bilateral meeting.
Later in the evening, both Dar and Khan are scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
The trip follows recent high-level meetings on strengthening economic cooperation. Bangladesh will form a new Trade and Investment Commission and revive the long-dormant Bangladesh-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission.
Finalised deals include visa exemption for diplomatic passport holders, a cultural exchange MoU, cooperation between foreign service academies, a joint trade and investment group, and MoUs on strategic studies and state news agency cooperation.
Talks are also underway for MoUs between quality control bodies such as BSTI and Pakistan's Halal Authority, and between the agricultural research institutions of both nations.
Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin said on 21 August meeting with Jam Kamal Khan focused on lifting anti-dumping duties on hydrogen peroxide, boosting market access, and drafting a Bangladesh-Pakistan Joint Trade Roadmap.
That day, the Advisory Council Committee also approved visa exemptions for diplomatic and official passport holders in a meeting at the Chief Adviser's Office, finalising the deal ahead of the minister's visit.
Besides, both countries have introduced direct shipping services and trade regimes, and are preparing to launch direct flights.
Pakistani airline Fly Jinnah has secured approval to operate on the Dhaka-Karachi route, while another carrier, Air Sial, has applied for permission, officials said.
The last ministerial-level visit from Pakistan took place in November 2012, when the then-foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar visited Dhaka to invite Bangladesh's then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina to the D-8 summit in Islamabad.
Diplomatic engagement between Dhaka and Islamabad has gained new momentum following last year's political transition in Bangladesh.
Dar's visit comes on the heels of Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan's official tour to Dhaka, where he met Bangladesh's advisers for commerce and industries, reports Dawn.
The two countries started direct government-to-government trade in February with imports of 50,000 tonnes of rice.
Diplomatic ties were rekindled after 15 years in April with the visit of Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch for Foreign Office Consultations (FOC).
Last month, when Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Dhaka, Pakistan and Bangladesh agreed to grant visa-free entry to holders of diplomatic and official passports from the other side.
Meets Jamaat, NCP delegations
Upon FM Dar's arrival, he met a delegation of the National Citizen Party (NCP), led by General Secretary Akhtar Hossain, reports Dawn.
He appreciated the NCP leadership's vision for reform and social justice and emphasised the need for greater interaction between the youth of Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The delegation members apprised FM Dar on different facets of countrywide political mobilisation in 2024.
The Pakistan foreign ministry said the two sides also discussed possibilities to promote cultural exchanges between Pakistan and Bangladesh in the days ahead.
The deputy PM also held a meeting with a delegation of Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami, led by Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher.
"The ways to strengthen Pakistan-Bangladesh relations and the recent developments in the region were two key areas of discussion. The DPM/FM lauded the courage and steadfastness of the Jamaat leaders and activists in the face of hardships and difficulties," the foreign ministry said.
