Pakistan deputy PM set to arrive in Dhaka tomorrow, key agreements on cards

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will arrive in Dhaka tomorrow (23 August) afternoon on a special flight for a two-day official visit.

The visit centres on a bilateral foreign minister-level meeting, with both countries preparing to sign six to seven agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), reports Samakal.

The minister will be received at the airport by Dr Md Nazrul Islam, secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (West and East).

Govt to form Trade and Investment Commission with Pakistan: Adviser Bashir

Tomorrow evening, the Pakistani High Commission in Dhaka will host a reception where Dar is expected to meet Bangladeshi academics, politicians, and civil society members separately.

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.

Bangladesh, Pakistan approve visa-free entry for diplomats, govt officials

Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin said yesterday's (21 August) meeting with Pakistan's Federal Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan focused on lifting anti-dumping duties on hydrogen peroxide, boosting market access, and drafting a Bangladesh-Pakistan Joint Trade Roadmap.

The Advisory Council Committee yesterday 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.