Pak FM, commerce minister due this week

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister and Commerce Minister are coming to Dhaka on official visits this week.

Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan will arrive on Thursday (21 August) and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will arrive on Saturday (23 August).

During their visits, discussions will be held with the interim government on normalising political and economic relations, officials said, adding that on the occasion of the Foreign Minister’s visit, several instruments are expected to be signed between the two countries.

Both ministers were originally scheduled to visit Dhaka at different times earlier. However, due to changes in Pakistan’s domestic situation, the visits were postponed. In April, the Foreign Minister’s Dhaka trip was suspended because of the India-Pakistan conflict. Similarly, preliminary discussions were held regarding the Commerce Minister’s visit in June, but that plan was also postponed.

During the tenure of the previous government, relations with Pakistan had remained somewhat cool. Since the interim government took office, multiple meetings have taken place between the political leaderships of the two countries.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has held two meetings with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in New York and in Egypt. For the purpose of foreign office consultations, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Aamna Baloch also visited Dhaka. Recently, Pakistan’s Interior Minister visited Dhaka as Chairman of the Asian Cricket Council and held meetings with the advisers for Home Affairs and Sports.

In connection with the visit, Bangladesh and Pakistan are discussing the signing of several instruments. These include an agreement on visa-free travel facilities for holders of diplomatic and official passports, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation between Bangladesh’s Foreign Service Academy and its Pakistani counterpart, and another MoU on the formation of a joint working group for discussions between the two commerce ministries. In addition, the renewal of the MoU on cultural exchanges and an MoU between Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) and Pakistan’s APP (Associated Press of Pakistan) may also be signed.

On 24 August, a bilateral meeting will be held between the foreign ministers of the two countries, which will be followed by the instrument signing ceremony. In the afternoon that day, Ishaq Dar will pay a courtesy call on the Chief Adviser.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com