Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during a meeting with Qatar’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani in Islamabad on Thursday, invited Qatari investors to explore new avenues of cooperation under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) framework.
The Qatari minister was in Pakistan to co-chair the sixth Pakistan-Qatar Joint Ministerial Commission meeting, which took place in Islamabad on October 22 and 23, 2025. Both countries signed several protocols aimed at expanding cooperation in various sectors and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and economic relations.
The core agenda of the commission focused on deepening bilateral ties, promoting trade and investment, and enhancing collaboration in infrastructure, energy, health, education, and cultural exchange. The two sides also stressed close consultations on regional security and global issues.
During the meeting, PM Shehbaz highlighted Pakistan’s investor-friendly policies and expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of Pakistan-Qatar relations built on shared faith, values, and mutual respect. He appreciated Qatar’s role as a key partner and influential regional player, emphasizing cooperation in energy, agriculture, food security, IT, tourism, and infrastructure development.
Sheikh Faisal reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to deepening economic ties with Pakistan, noting that the joint ministerial commission served as a key platform to identify new initiatives for mutually beneficial partnerships.
Both leaders agreed to enhance business-to-business engagements and facilitate investment projects to translate mutual understanding into tangible outcomes.
According to the joint statement, both countries expressed interest in expanding cooperation in transportation, including rail, buses, and metro systems, and prioritizing green technologies such as electric, autonomous, and hydrogen-powered vehicles. Pakistan highlighted investment opportunities in projects like the Kharian-Rawalpindi Motorway (M-13) and Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway. Aviation cooperation will continue, with a bilateral consultative meeting planned for the first quarter of 2026.
In education, the second executive program for 2025-28 was agreed upon, and an MoU on technical and vocational training was developed. In healthcare, both sides emphasized operationalizing the existing MoU through a joint working committee, focusing on medical expert exchanges and mutual recognition of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment.
In culture and media, both sides agreed on easing visa processes, promoting short-term cultural exchanges, and advancing joint projects in film, museums, and heritage. A cooperation agreement was also signed between Qatar News Agency and APP.
In ICT, collaboration on e-government, smart cities, and the digital economy was emphasized, along with partnerships between Qatar Science and Technology Park and Pakistan’s Special Technology Zones Authority. Both sides also agreed to boost the deployment of skilled Pakistani workers in Qatar’s labor market under a new labor cooperation agreement.
