Dhaka and Islamabad agreed to deepen cooperation across sectors including trade, agriculture, IT, food, energy, pharmaceuticals, and connectivity, Dhaka-based sources told ET.
The Pakistan delegation at the JEC was led by Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik. Dhaka had not convened the commission for two decades, with ties remaining tepid under Sheikh Hasina’s government.
Over the past decade, Bangladesh’s economy has outpaced Pakistan’s, and experts say Islamabad now has limited economic leverage to offer Dhaka amid its own sluggish growth.
Bangladesh Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, who led the host delegation at the JEC, told the media, “This is a very important meeting. After 20 years, we’ve resumed our economic dialogue with Pakistan, and it has been a very successful one. We discussed cooperation in agriculture, IT, food, maritime transport, and other sectors that can benefit both nations.”
The finance adviser stressed that Bangladesh’s approach extends beyond bilateral ties, saying, “We want to move towards regional cooperation as well.” He added that focal points would be set up in ministries, including Civil Aviation and Maritime Affairs, to follow up on the discussions.Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik noted that trade between the two countries remains below $1 billion, despite their large populations and complementary economies.
Referring to recent high-level exchanges, Malik said, “The deputy prime minister of Pakistan visited Bangladesh in August, and both countries have continued to engage at the highest levels in multilateral forums. We believe this spirit of friendship and cooperation will continue to grow – Insha Allah, we’ll build on this positive momentum.”