Egypt to grant Visa access to 250 Pakistani businesses

December 01, 2025 (MLN): Pakistan and Egypt have agreed to extend facilitated visa access to 250 Pakistani business houses in the first phase to deepen bilateral economic and private-sector engagement.

The measure, set to expand to 500 business entities in the second phase, was among the major outcomes of Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr Badr Ahmed Mohamed Abdelatty’s two-day official visit to Islamabad from November 29–30, said a press release issued yesterday. 

The decision forms part of a broader roadmap designed to unlock trade potential and encourage investment flows between the two countries.

Both sides have also agreed to establish the Pakistan–Egypt Business Council and the Pakistan–Egypt Business Forum, which will formally convene in the second quarter of 2026 alongside the Joint Ministerial Commission.

Officials regard these platforms as essential to institutionalising B2B linkages and energising sectors such as textiles, agriculture, food products, pharmaceuticals, energy, logistics, construction and IT.

The economic push emerged during detailed delegation-level talks held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where Pakistan and Egypt reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral ties, political, economic, defence, cultural and educational.

Dr Abdelatty noted that Cairo is keen to enhance cooperation in areas with substantial growth potential, while encouraging private-sector participation from both sides.

Strengthening educational collaboration, Dr Abdelatty also announced that Al-Azhar University will double scholarships for Pakistani students.

The strategic dimension of the visit was underscored by the Egyptian foreign minister’s meeting with Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at the GHQ.

Both sides discussed defence cooperation, training, military exchanges and broader regional stability, reaffirming their commitment to sustained high-level military engagement.

Regional security, particularly the situation in Gaza, featured prominently in the talks. Dr Abdelatty stressed that the proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for Gaza should have a clearly defined mandate focused on monitoring the ceasefire and securing the enclave’s borders.

He encouraged a constructive Pakistani role in Gaza’s future reconstruction and humanitarian efforts.

Separately, Dr Abdelatty called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr, where both leaders reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen the 77-year-old Pakistan–Egypt partnership.

President Zardari emphasised the importance of expanding cooperation in trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges, and invited greater Egyptian investment in Pakistan’s growing sectors.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Senator Sherry Rehman, Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, senior Foreign Office officials, and Egypt’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr Ihab Mohamed Abdelhamid Hassan.

Meanwhile, adding to the diplomatic momentum, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan arrived in Cairo on November 30 to participate in the Fourth D-8 Trade Ministers Council Meeting.

He was received by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Egypt, Aamir Shouket, along with senior Egyptian officials.

His visit will include plenary sessions, bilateral engagements and cultural tours, including visits to the Grand Egyptian Museum and Abdeen Palace.

The engagements reflect a renewed drive by both Pakistan and Egypt to open a new chapter in their bilateral relations, anchored in economic expansion, strategic cooperation and joint efforts to promote peace and stability in the wider region.

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