The Joint Economic Commission (JEC) between Bangladesh and Pakistan held a meeting on 27 October 2025 in Dhaka. Bangladesh interim government’s Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed led the Bangladesh delegation team at the meeting. On the other hand, the Pakistan delegation team was headed by Pakistan government’s Petroleum and Energy Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik. Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed and Ali Pervaiz Malik exchanged views on the current status of economic ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh and talked about opening up further windows of opportunities to enhance commercial affiliation between the two countries in new dimensions and innovative ways.
Bangladesh delegation head Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed spoke very high of the rise in fraternity and alliance between Dhaka and Islamabad and some meetings and consultations which were held with participation of senior officials from both sides. Ali Pervaiz Malik extended warm felicitations and compliments to Bangladesh for hosting the meeting with Pakistan delegates. Ali Pervaiz Malik laid emphasis on revitalizing this economic platform shared by the two countries and on making stronger efforts to make the most of the foreign trade potentialities that exist between Dhaka and Islamabad. He looks forward to more extensive cooperation between Bangladesh and Pakistan to work for advancement in key sectors belonging to both countries by utilizing joint initiatives.
Both sides appreciated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Pakistan Halal Authority (PHA) and Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI). Both Bangladesh and Pakistan agreed to work together to bolster reciprocal economic bonds through the trading corporations belonging to the two countries. The discussants at the JEC meeting admired the export of white rice from Pakistan to Bangladesh. Pakistan delegates called upon the Bangladesh authorities to speed up the procedure of exporting mangoes to Bangladesh.
Both sides agreed to enhance the export of jute products from Bangladesh to Pakistan which decreased during the previous years. Bangladesh and Pakistan placed proposals for launching a concessionary trade agreement between the two countries for expediting and implementing commercial prospects that prevail in these two countries. The participants of the JEC meeting stressed exploring commercial and investment prospects in a broad number of sectors like automobile industry, electric vehicles, industrial machineries, light engineering, surgical instruments, sportswear, cutlery and kitchen tools, jut and leather goods, pharmaceuticals, agricultural arena and another few turfs.
Bangladesh called upon Pakistan entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladesh’s jute industry keeping in view the rising demand for eco-friendly commodities worldwide. The need for wider cooperation between the two countries’ education and information technology sectors was also strongly addressed. The high-ups from both Pakistan and Bangladesh economic delegations talked about upgrading mutual partnership in promoting tourism and cultural exchange.
Nevertheless, some noted economists have suggested the Bangladesh interim government to deal with Pakistan cautiously in economic terms. It should be noted that Pakistan’s economy is not in a very sound and solid shape. It was reported by local and international news agencies quite frequently in recent years how Pakistan’s economy was jolted by getting tied up with Chinese financial schemes.
Former Adviser to caretaker government Dr. Hussain Zillur Rahman said that no agreements should be signed with foreign countries which can bring about further complications in Bangladesh’s economic spectacles. Bangladesh should approach economic deals in a balanced way with external partners and in a very calculative style, Dr. Hussain Zillur Rahman further said.
Professor Dr. Mainul Ahsan, Economics Department in University of Chittagong said that Bangladesh’s economy and financial sectors suffered enormously during last more than a decade due to several wrong decisions by the immediate past government. Dr. Mainul Ahsan appealed to the interim government to take steps carefully and to establish good governance and accountability in the administrative units which are assigned to carry out economic plans.
Dr. Khandaker Golam Moazzem, Research Director in Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) said that economic attachment with neighbouring countries is very much required. Integrity, precision, far-sight and domain specific expertise is necessary to pull out Bangladesh’s economy from the present doldrums, Dr. Khandaker Golam Moazzem commented.
