Islamabad, May 5, 2026: The Parliamentary Friendship Group on Pakistan–Qatar relations on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to expanding bilateral trade, investment and strategic connectivity between the two countries, while exploring new avenues of cooperation in key economic sectors.
The meeting was led by Convener of the Pakistan-Qatar Parliamentary Friendship Group Zeeshan Khanzada and Advisor to the Chairman Senate Misbah Khar, who met with Ambassador of Qatar Ali Mubarak Ali Essa Al-Khater to review progress in bilateral relations and chart a roadmap for future collaboration.
Both sides described the Pakistan–Qatar relationship as one rooted in brotherhood, mutual trust and longstanding goodwill, with Qatar recognized as a key regional partner and an important contributor to Pakistan’s energy security.
Senator Zeeshan Khanzada emphasized that the relationship was guided by shared values and strong solidarity, while Misbah Khar highlighted recent high-level engagements, including the Prime Minister’s visits to Doha in early 2026 and the President’s participation in the World Summit on Social Development.
The two sides also reaffirmed their commitment to regional stability, with particular appreciation expressed for Qatar’s role in facilitating dialogue during the Pakistan–Afghanistan border tensions.
Officials noted that bilateral trade had reached approximately $3.6 billion in the 2024–25 fiscal year, but acknowledged that the current level still falls short of the relationship’s full economic potential.
To address this gap, the Pakistan–Qatar Joint Ministerial Commission agreed to upgrade the existing Joint Working Group into a dedicated Trade and Investment Task Force. The new mechanism will focus on facilitating Qatari investment in Pakistan’s energy, infrastructure, aviation, hospitality, IT, pharmaceuticals and maritime sectors.
The meeting also discussed external trade challenges, including disruptions linked to instability in the Strait of Hormuz, while expressing optimism about long-term growth through alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030 and Pakistan’s development priorities.
Special focus was placed on the welfare of the approximately 300,000-strong Pakistani diaspora in Qatar. The delegation expressed gratitude for Qatar’s support and protection of Pakistani nationals during recent regional tensions.
Both sides also agreed on the importance of enhancing parliamentary exchanges, improving consular cooperation, and exploring facilitation measures such as visa-on-arrival arrangements and mechanisms to address legal and consular cases, including the possibility of a prisoner exchange framework.
The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to further deepen institutional engagement and transform the Pakistan–Qatar relationship into a stronger, more diversified strategic and economic partnership.
