Bahrain presents highest state honour to Pakistan PM in Manama

November 27, 2025 (MLN): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif received Bahrain’s highest state award for foreign leaders during his visit to Manama on Wednesday, where both countries moved to advance cooperation across political, economic and security spheres.

King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa conferred the Order of Bahrain (First Class) on the prime minister during a meeting that also reaffirmed the longstanding partnership between the two states, according to the press release.

The King also shared a historical note, telling the prime minister that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had once represented Bahrain as legal counsel, describing it as a “privilege” for the kingdom.

Both sides reviewed progress in bilateral relations, including defence cooperation, regional security and cultural ties.

Pakistan reiterated its commitment to deepen engagement with Bahrain based on shared faith and mutual respect.

In economic discussions, Shehbaz Sharif highlighted Pakistan’s push to expand trade and investment as the Pakistan–GCC Free Trade Agreement nears completion.

Bilateral trade currently above $ 550 million is targeted to reach $ 1 billion within three years.

The prime minister invited Bahraini investors to explore opportunities under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), particularly in food security, mining, construction, IT, healthcare, tourism and renewable energy.

He also proposed improving port-to-port connectivity between Karachi or Gwadar and Bahrain’s Khalifa Bin Salman Port.

The Bahraini leadership welcomed Pakistan’s interest, while the prime minister thanked the kingdom for its support to the more than 150,000 Pakistanis living and working there.

He expressed appreciation for recent pardons of Pakistani prisoners and acknowledged Bahrain’s assistance in repatriation efforts.

Both sides agreed to expand cooperation in higher education, technical training, digital governance and healthcare, including follow-up initiatives linked to the King Hamad University for Nursing and Allied Medical Sciences inaugurated in Islamabad in September 2025.

Security and defence talks covered training, logistics, manpower exchanges, cybersecurity and defence production.

Both sides also discussed the situation in Gaza, agreeing that lasting peace and stability for Palestinians was overdue.

Earlier in the day, Shehbaz Sharif met Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, receiving a guard of honour at Al-Qudaibiya Palace.

The prime minister congratulated Bahrain on securing a UN Security Council non-permanent seat for 2026–27 and pledged close coordination during its term.

The visit concluded with a banquet hosted by King Hamad, with both governments expressing confidence that the engagements would translate into concrete outcomes and strengthen Pakistan–Bahrain relations across strategic, economic and people-to-people domains.

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