Bahrain Seeks Faster Approval of Pakistan-GCC Free Trade Agreement
Bahrain has said it is working to accelerate the approval and signing of a proposed free trade agreement between Pakistan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
The announcement came during the third session of the Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC), held in Islamabad on Thursday. Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani co-chaired the meeting with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Al Zayani said the discussions covered more than 15 areas of cooperation between the two countries.
Both sides agreed to create a joint working group focused on trade and investment. They also decided to hold a meeting of the joint energy working group next month to discuss areas including oil, gas and minerals.
The two countries further agreed to expand cooperation in food security, information technology, law enforcement, media, labour mobility, healthcare, education, culture and sports.
Al Zayani said Bahrain was committed to helping complete the Pakistan-GCC free trade agreement. As Bahrain currently holds the GCC presidency, he said Manama was working to speed up the process leading to the agreement’s approval or signing.
The Bahraini foreign minister described relations between Pakistan and Bahrain as strong and stable, saying the bilateral partnership continued to grow without major fluctuations.
He said the relationship enjoyed the support of Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, while also receiving strong backing from the Bahraini people.
Al Zayani also appreciated Pakistan’s position on regional developments and highlighted Islamabad’s role in diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions between the United States and Iran.
He said Bahrain valued Pakistan’s cooperation at the United Nations Security Council and expressed appreciation for Islamabad’s support for regional stability and dialogue.
The Bahraini minister strongly condemned recent attacks on civilian and airport facilities in Saudi Arabia. He also criticised attacks attributed to the Houthi group against civilians and civilian infrastructure in the kingdom, including areas around the holy cities of Makkah and Madina.
According to Al Zayani, attacks against civilian targets represent a serious violation of international law. He reaffirmed Bahrain’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia, saying the kingdom’s security was closely linked to the security of Bahrain and the wider GCC.
The two foreign ministers also discussed security concerns surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab, where commercial shipping has faced threats.
They stressed the need to protect freedom of navigation, ensure the safety of commercial vessels and uphold international law.
Al Zayani said Pakistan and Bahrain would maintain close coordination at the United Nations Security Council and between their diplomatic missions in New York.
The two countries are also preparing to mark 55 years of diplomatic relations on October 14.
The Bahraini foreign minister said recent high-level visits had given fresh momentum to bilateral ties, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Bahrain in November 2025 and President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit in January 2026.
He also highlighted the contribution of more than 140,000 Pakistanis living and working in Bahrain, describing them as an important link between the two nations.
