DOHA (Web Desk) – Pakistan and Qatar have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening economic ties, expanding bilateral trade and promoting investment in key sectors following the second meeting of their Joint Task Force in Doha.
The meeting was co-chaired by Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs, Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed. Both sides reviewed progress made since their previous meeting in April 2026 and discussed measures to accelerate ongoing economic initiatives.
Pakistan called for the early signing of the Pakistan-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Free Trade Agreement, stating that its domestic approval process had been completed. Pakistani officials also urged Qatar to reconsider its ban on bone-in meat imports, noting that the required technical documentation on animal health and food safety had been provided.
Food security emerged as a key area of discussion, with both countries exploring a government-to-government agreement for rice supplies from Pakistan to Qatar. The proposed arrangement between the Trading Corporation of Pakistan and Qatar’s Hassad Food is awaiting federal cabinet approval.
Pakistan also invited Qatari investors to explore opportunities in modern agriculture, grain storage, cold-chain infrastructure and agricultural technology. Both countries expressed interest in developing sustainable supply chains to strengthen food security.
The discussions extended to electric vehicles, new-energy technologies, industrial partnerships and technology transfer. Pakistan highlighted opportunities in information technology, digital infrastructure and IT services, while both sides explored greater cooperation in maritime transport and shipping.
Pakistan presented the proposed Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway as a potential investment opportunity, highlighting its importance for improving connectivity between ports and facilitating regional trade with Central Asian countries. Cooperation in oil tankers, liquefied natural gas carriers and container vessels was also discussed.
Qatar emphasised the importance of strengthening civil aviation and air connectivity, while the two sides considered a proposed investment fund to support cooperation in priority economic sectors.
To improve coordination, Pakistan called for the early activation of 11 technical working groups covering sectors including agriculture, minerals, industry, education, health, tourism and information technology. The groups are expected to prepare progress reports on trade, investment and other areas of cooperation before the task force’s third meeting in Pakistan.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Jam Kamal Khan and Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed signed the minutes of the task force’s first meeting.
Separately, Jam Kamal Khan met Nan Li Collins, head of the World Investment Forum, to discuss global economic challenges, regional cooperation, connectivity and coordinated efforts to address shared economic concerns.
The latest engagement reflects both countries’ efforts to translate bilateral relations into practical trade and investment opportunities, with a focus on economic growth, regional connectivity and long-term cooperation.
