Pakistan FM in Dhaka on 2-day official visit

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrives in Dhaka on Saturday on a two-day official visit to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries and boost the relationship to a different height.

This marks the first state visit by a Pakistan Foreign Minister in 13 years following the last August's student-led uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government. Since the interim government led by Chief Adviser Dr Mohammad Yunus took over after the July-August Uprising the relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan have shown marked improvement.

Ishaq Dar Khan will pay a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus.

The last ministerial-level visit from Pakistan took place in November 2012, when the then-foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar visited Dhaka to invite Bangladesh's then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina to the D-8 summit in Islamabad.

Pakistan Foreign Office termed Ishaq Dar's visit as "landmark and historic". Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain is scheduled to hold official talks with the visiting Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister today (Sunday) morning at the state guest house Padma. The visiting Pakistan's Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan is also expected to join the bilateral meeting. 

Following the talks and the signing ceremony, Adviser Touhid will brief the media.

Meanwhile, a Foreign Ministry official said both the countries are set to sign several deals that include visa exemption for diplomatic passport holders, a cultural exchange MoU, cooperation between foreign service academies, a joint trade and investment group, and MoUs on strategic studies and state news agency cooperation.

"We are working on signing MoUs between quality control bodies such as BSTI and Pakistan's Halal Authority, and between the agricultural research institutions of both nations, the signing of four to five memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to boost cooperation in trade, culture, media, training, and travel sectors," Foreign Ministry official said.

The trip follows recent high-level meetings on strengthening economic cooperation. Bangladesh will form a new Trade and Investment Commission and revive the long-dormant Bangladesh-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission.

Earlier, Bangladesh and Pakistan Commerce Minister agreed on several issues including form a new Trade and Investment Commission and revive the long-dormant Bangladesh-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission during which Dhaka and Islamabad are expected to sign several bilateral cooperation agreements.

Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin said on 21 August meeting with Jam Kamal Khan focused on lifting anti-dumping duties on hydrogen peroxide, boosting market access, and drafting a Bangladesh-Pakistan Joint Trade Roadmap.

Meanwhile, the Advisory Council Committee approved visa exemptions for diplomatic and official passport holders in a meeting at the Chief Adviser's Office, finalising the deal ahead of the minister's visit.

Besides, both countries have introduced direct shipping services, eased visa and trade regimes, and are preparing to launch direct flights.

Pakistan airline Fly Jinnah has secured approval to operate on the Dhaka-Karachi route, while another carrier, Air Sial, has applied for permission, officials said. 

The two countries have also initiated direct shipping, ease visa and trade regimes, and are preparing to launch direct flights. 

Discussions are expected to cover the full range of bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest, a statement issued by the foreign ministry said.  

Referring to 1971 issues with Pakistan, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on August 4 said each issue would be on the table for discussions with his Pakistani counterpart during his visit.  

Ishaq Dar's previous scheduled visit to Bangladesh in April was postponed amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and India following a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.