البحرين : سفير باكستان لـ"الوطن": 800 مليون دولار حجم التجارة مع البحرين في 2023

A wise approach by the King in spreading religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence
Facilitating investment in agriculture, information technology, mining, minerals and energy through SIFC

The balance of trade is swinging in favor of Bahrain
Remarkable efforts by Bahrain in maintaining security and navigation
Bahrain-affiliated financial services institutions in Pakistan
Possibility of expanding Pakistani school services in Bahrain
Bahrain students will get quality education in Pakistan
The free trade agreement consolidates areas of cooperation between Pakistan and the Gulf countries
The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Saqib Rauf, stressed “the depth of the close and strong relations between his country and the Kingdom,” explaining that “those relations include the political, economic, defence, social, academic, educational and cultural fields.”
Ambassador Raouf added in his first interview with the local press since assuming his position, given to Al-Watan, that “the wisdom of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of the country, is clearly evident in the Kingdom’s internal and international policies, as Bahrain has succeeded under the wise leadership of His Majesty the King in Consolidating its position as a country that promotes the principles of religious freedom and peaceful coexistence.” He stated that “the volume of bilateral trade exceeded $800 million in the fiscal year 2023, and the trade balance continued to swing in favor of Bahrain, as the two sides are working to find ways to further expand this exchange,” noting that “Pakistan has established a special investment facilitation council (SIFC).” It focuses on strengthening cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and we have worked to identify 4 priority areas for investment, which are agriculture, information technology, mines, minerals, and energy,” noting that “the expected rate of return on investment in these sectors is high.” Ambassador Raouf touched on the defense and military relations between the two countries, explaining that “cooperation between our defense forces is deeply rooted in the areas of training, exchange of experiences, and joint exercises.”
He spoke about “Bahrain’s efforts to maintain navigational security and protect ships and oil supplies in the Gulf,” stressing “the efforts of the joint naval forces, the Bahraini Navy, and the Coast Guard to improve freedom of navigation.” Regarding cooperation in the academic and educational field, the Ambassador of the Republic of Pakistan stated the possibility of “expanding the services of Pakistani schools in Bahrain.” And the text of the dialogue:
Strong and close relations between Bahrain and Pakistan.. Can we review these relations?
Pakistan and Bahrain enjoy ongoing and stable historical friendly relations, and the two countries have supported each other in all regional and international issues at the bilateral and multilateral levels. Recent regional and international developments have also proven once again that both countries enjoy synergy in their dealings with these developments, as… The two countries follow a peaceful approach to foreign policy based on international law, and believe that all international disputes must be resolved in accordance with the law.
What about the different areas of cooperation between the two countries?
Pakistan and Bahrain enjoy close political, economic, defense and social relations, and the two countries also maintain close relations between the two peoples due to the presence of a large number of Pakistani expatriates in Bahrain, and the roots of these relations extend to include history, geography and religion.
What about defense and military cooperation between the two countries?
Both sides have a comprehensive defense cooperation framework that covers almost all areas of bilateral defense cooperation. In addition, cooperation between our defense forces is deeply rooted in the areas of training, exchange of experiences and joint exercises, and we work closely together to consult on issues of common interest.
Bahrain enjoys freedom of belief, peaceful coexistence, and religious tolerance. What do you think of that?
– The influence of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the country, is clearly evident in the Kingdom’s domestic and international policies, as Bahrain has succeeded, under the wise leadership of His Majesty the King, in consolidating its position as a country in which individuals from diverse backgrounds coexist in harmony. In addition, this country, which is characterized by its multicultural and multiethnic composition, is very keen to advance at a steady pace of growth. The Kingdom of Bahrain is keen to promote the principles of religious freedom and peaceful coexistence with the utmost effectiveness at the highest levels, and the invitation addressed by His Majesty the King to His Holiness Pope Francis and the Sheikh of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in 2022 represents clear evidence of His Majesty’s particular keenness to promote tolerance, coexistence and religious harmony. . The reaction shown by the Bahraini government to the shameful acts of desecration of the Holy Quran that took place in various regions around the world, as well as its call to put an end to all manifestations of Islamophobia in a decisive manner, is the best example of the wise approach followed by the Bahraini government.
How do you view the establishment of the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence?
His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the country, pays special attention to promoting religious harmony and peaceful coexistence. Among His Majesty’s initiatives is the establishment of the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence, the launch of the “Bahrain Declaration” document, and the King Hamad International Award for Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence. The Center is keen to promote peaceful coexistence, interfaith dialogue and tolerance among various religious and cultural groups, which represents the need of the hour to promote religious harmony and confront offensive tendencies such as Islamophobia.
How do you evaluate Bahrain’s efforts to maintain navigational security and protect ships and oil supplies in the Gulf?
– Bahrain is committed to protecting the free flow of trade, improving the level of maritime security, and confronting illegal activities carried out by non-governmental entities. To bring these principles into force, Bahrain hosts a joint naval force, an alliance made up of 39 countries. The efforts of the joint naval forces, the Bahraini Navy and the Coast Guard have improved freedom of navigation and reduced drug smuggling.
What about economic relations between the two countries?
Pakistan and Bahrain enjoy close trade and economic relations, and these relations are getting stronger over time. Economic relations between Pakistan and Bahrain include trade relations, bilateral investments and trade in services, and special efforts are needed to further build on this solid foundation.
How much is the volume of trade exchange between Bahrain and Pakistan? What about the value of exports and imports?
The volume of bilateral trade exceeded $800 million in the fiscal year 2023, and the trade balance continued to swing in favor of Bahrain, and the two sides are also working on finding ways to further expand this exchange.
What are the most prominent exports and imports between the two countries?
Exports from Bahrain included oil and its derivatives, iron waste, scrap, aluminum, and cotton fabrics. On the other hand, Pakistan exported meat, vegetables, rice, tobacco, and electrical appliances to Bahrain. Moreover, the proximity of location, complementarity of goods exchanged and the nature of bilateral relations contribute to creating a solid foundation, which increases the speed of growth of these trade and economic ties.
How many Pakistani companies are in Bahrain? What about Bahraini companies in Pakistan?
Pakistan and Bahrain signed several documents to promote bilateral investments, but despite this, development in this sector remained below its full potential. There are many companies working in the field of construction, packaging, logistics, and the perfume industry, and there are also a number of financial services institutions affiliated with Bahrain in Pakistan, and cooperation must continue in order to achieve results on the ground.
What is Pakistan’s plan to attract Bahraini investors?
Pakistan has established a Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), which focuses on enhancing cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and we have worked to identify four priority areas for investment: agriculture, information technology, mines, minerals, and energy. All these sectors have a well-established base in Pakistan as the expected rate of return on investment in these sectors is high.
Any Bahraini investment in these sectors will benefit from the incentives recently announced by the Private Investment Facilitation Board introduced by Pakistan. Pakistan has signed memorandums of understanding with the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, and is fully prepared to sign memorandums of understanding with other Gulf Cooperation Council countries including Bahrain.
How many Pakistani workers have straightened their status recently?
– The Embassy of Pakistan and the Labor Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) in Bahrain work together to address issues related to residency. We at the embassy make efforts to ensure that any Pakistani remains in Bahrain only in accordance with the applicable laws of Bahrain, and our colleagues in the Labor Market Regulatory Authority always work to facilitate and accommodate applicants who are actually interested. To remain legally in the country, the rest are asked to leave for Pakistan.
What about educational and academic cooperation between the two countries?
There is good cooperation between the two countries in this field, and some Pakistani professors and vocational trainers work in educational institutes in Bahrain. The two Pakistani community schools and the Urdu school provide services in Bahrain, and there is still room for cooperation with regard to research and creating relations between higher education institutes in the two countries.
What are the most prominent fields of study and specialization in Pakistan?
Pakistan has a developed educational system, and most of our universities are proud of the positions they have achieved in the QS classification system. However, the general preference in Bahrain is to attend educational institutions in the United States and Europe. Pakistan welcomes Bahraini students and we are confident that they will receive a quality education at a lower cost than they would spend in other countries.
Are you planning to open new schools in Bahrain?
The two Pakistani schools have long contributed to improving the quality of education in Bahrain, and there is a growing demand from many other communities who wish to benefit from the services of these two schools. We are in contact with the administrations of these schools to see if they can expand their services further. However, these schools run by members of our community need local support to expand.
How many members of the Pakistani community are there in the Kingdom of Bahrain?
– Bahrain warmly hosts about 80,000 Pakistani citizens, and we are very grateful for the hospitality and generosity of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the great King of the country, the government and our brothers and sisters in the Kingdom.
What are the most prominent fields in which members of the Pakistani community work in Bahrain?
The Pakistani community in Bahrain includes high-level professionals such as doctors, engineers, bankers, businessmen and blue-collar workers (manual workers). Pakistanis have contributed to the development of Bahrain’s financial sector, construction sector, textile sector, transportation sector and other sectors.
What about the cooperation relations between Pakistan and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries?
Throughout history, Pakistan has maintained a strong and diverse relationship with the Gulf Cooperation Council, including various aspects such as politics, economics, security, and popular relations. Building friendly relations with the GCC countries is a crucial component of Pakistani foreign policy, with a strong focus on promoting mutually beneficial trade and economic relations. It is worth noting that Pakistan achieved a major achievement when it became the first country in a long time to sign a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Pakistan is also working on the final formulation of a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council, which will facilitate bilateral trade and investment. Through the implementation of this agreement, we aim to strengthen and consolidate the existing ties between Pakistan and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.