Dhaka (TDI): Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, called on the newly elected Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman, following his oath-taking ceremony, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to revitalizing bilateral relations and regional cooperation.
Representing Prime Minister of Pakistan at the ceremony, Minister Ahsan Iqbal conveyed warm congratulations on behalf of the Government and people of Pakistan, extending best wishes for peace, progress and prosperity for Bangladesh under Prime Minister Rahman’s leadership.
During the meeting, he also delivered a formal invitation from Pakistan’s Prime Minister, inviting his Bangladeshi counterpart to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually convenient date.
The two leaders held detailed discussions on reinvigorating ties between the two South Asian nations and enhancing regional collaboration.
Minister Ahsan Iqbal emphasized the importance of reviving the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), noting that South Asia remains one of the least integrated regions globally due to historical conflicts.
He underscored that closer cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh could help advance regional connectivity and promote a shared geo-economic vision for South Asia.
Highlighting the importance of knowledge-driven partnerships, Minister Ahsan Iqbal proposed the establishment of a “Pakistan–Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor” aimed at strengthening academic, research and technological collaboration.
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He announced that the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) would be directed to visit Bangladesh to explore twin-university agreements and expand student and faculty exchange programs.
Emphasizing youth engagement as a cornerstone of long-term cooperation, the Minister revealed that Pakistan has allocated 500 scholarships for Bangladeshi students, with 75 already proceeding to Pakistan for higher education. He described enhanced academic exchanges as vital to building enduring people-to-people connections.
The meeting also explored institutional collaboration, including partnerships between the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), and their counterparts in Bangladesh. The proposed cooperation would focus on sharing expertise in data systems, digital governance and institutional capacity building.
Both sides discussed expanding cooperation in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and cottage industries, recognizing the potential of their combined populations to secure a greater share in global markets for technology-enabled services, manufacturing and goods production.
Improving connectivity, including expanding direct flight operations, was also identified as key to facilitating trade, tourism and business engagement.
In a cultural gesture, Minister Ahsan Iqbal proposed the revival of the Iqbal Academy and suggested joint celebrations marking the 150th birth anniversary of Allama Muhammad Iqbal next year, highlighting shared intellectual heritage.
