Pakistan, Syria plot fresh course, propose joint business council

August 21, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan and Syria have agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across political, economic and trade domains, with both sides committing to translate longstanding goodwill into concrete outcomes including a proposed joint business council and investment forum.

The understanding was reached during wide-ranging delegation-level talks between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani in Islamabad, where the two sides reaffirmed the brotherly ties between the two countries.

They also exchanged views on regional and international developments, including Palestine, the Golan Heights, Afghanistan, the situation in South Asia and the wider Middle East, said a press release issued.

Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan's support for Syria's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, while the Syrian foreign minister welcomed the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement and commended Pakistan's role in promoting regional peace, including its efforts toward de-escalation in the US-Iran context.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued engagement for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond.

In a parallel engagement, the Syrian foreign minister, accompanied by a high-level delegation, called on Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, in what marked the delegation's first visit to Pakistan.

The commerce minister conveyed solidarity with the people of Syria and condolences over the losses endured during the prolonged conflict, along with best wishes for the country's reconstruction and long-term prosperity.

Jam Kamal Khan briefed the visiting delegation on Pakistan's export potential across textiles and apparel, pharmaceuticals, leather, sports goods, food processing, rice and other agricultural products, light engineering, information technology, cosmetics and value-added products.

He noted that the complementary strengths of the two economies offered considerable scope for mutually beneficial cooperation, and called for greater private-sector interaction to explore trade, investment and joint-venture opportunities.

Hassan Al-Shaibani, in turn, briefed the commerce minister on Syria's reconstruction and development priorities, highlighting the resilience of the Syrian people and progress in restoring essential infrastructure and public services.

He identified housing, real estate, energy, transportation, seaports, agriculture, industry and human-resource development as promising areas for cooperation, noting that current bilateral trade volumes did not reflect the true potential of the two countries.

The Syrian foreign minister proposed establishing a Pakistan-Syria Joint Business Council to facilitate direct interaction between the business communities of both countries, along with a joint investment forum in Damascus bringing together private and public sector representatives.

He added that a delegation from Syria's Ministry of Economy would visit Pakistan to further explore cooperation opportunities.

Jam Kamal Khan proposed close coordination between the trade authorities of the two countries to identify priority sectors and prepare a practical roadmap, besides suggesting virtual business matchmaking sessions ahead of in-person engagements.

 He also called for reviving the Pakistan-Syria Joint Ministerial Commission and its working groups, and for activating the existing framework between the two countries' chambers of commerce through regular exchanges and business delegations.

The commerce minister expressed Pakistan's willingness to explore sending a trade and business delegation to Syria and conveyed interest in strengthening its trade representation in the country going forward.

Referring to historical and cultural links, particularly with Balochistan, Khan noted that historical accounts point to ancestral ties between the Baloch people and Syria, which he said further enriched the longstanding relationship between the two nations.

Both ministers reaffirmed their resolve to deepen bilateral relations and agreed to maintain close coordination for translating existing goodwill into concrete progress on trade, investment and economic cooperation.

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