Islamabad, November 30,2025: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Sunday that Pakistan will soon provide Egypt with a list of 250 vetted business enterprises for inclusion in Cairo’s “white list,” marking a significant development in efforts to boost bilateral economic cooperation.
Addressing a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr Badr Ahmed Mohamed Abdelatty, Dar said the first list was prepared through a “transparent and merit-based process,” while a second batch of 250 firms would be finalised within six months — bringing the total to 500.
Dar said both countries had agreed to establish a Pakistan–Egypt Business Council, an institutional platform aimed at enhancing trade and investment flows between the two nations. He added that the move reflects a shared commitment to transforming the bilateral relationship into a more structured and outcome-oriented partnership.
To address recurring visa-related complaints, the DPM revealed that Islamabad and Cairo had finalised a new facilitation mechanism to ease travel and business mobility. The initiative is expected to streamline visa processes for traders, investors, and professionals from both sides.
Outlining the diplomatic roadmap, Dar said political consultations will take place in Pakistan during the first quarter of 2026, followed by the first meeting of the forum in Cairo in the second quarter. He further announced that Pakistan and Egypt have agreed — for the first time since 2010 — to convene a session of the Joint Ministerial Commission in 2026.
During the presser, FM Abdelatty conveyed Egypt’s condolences and solidarity with Pakistan over recent terrorist attacks in Islamabad and Peshawar, stressing that Cairo stands “firmly with Pakistan” in its fight against terrorism.
Earlier, both leaders held a detailed bilateral meeting. Dar welcomed the “positive momentum” in Pakistan–Egypt relations, noting that Islamabad places strong value on its ties with Cairo. He said the Egyptian foreign minister’s visit highlighted the countries’ joint desire to deepen cooperation across political, economic, defence and cultural domains.
Dar also praised ongoing engagement at multilateral forums, saying such exchanges were helping advance long-term goals of cooperation and brotherhood. The bond between the two nations, he said, was “globally recognised,” and both sides were determined to elevate ties to a higher level.
FM Abdelatty, in his remarks, acknowledged the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and Egypt, noting that both countries face shared economic, political and security challenges. He underscored the importance of closer collaboration and knowledge exchange.
“Peace and stability are the main pillars of our strategic partnership,” the Egyptian foreign minister said, expressing Egypt’s desire to upgrade relations to a strategic level and revitalise dialogue mechanisms, particularly the Joint Ministerial Committee.
He reaffirmed that under the guidance of their leadership, Egypt remains committed to strengthening cooperation with Pakistan in all fields.
