Pakistan Qatar trade cooperation moved a step forward in Doha as Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs Dr Ahmad bin Mohammed Al-Sayed co-chaired the second meeting of the Pakistan–Qatar Joint Task Force on Trade and Investment on 24 October. The two sides reviewed progress since their first meeting and looked at fresh openings for trade, investment and industrial partnerships, according to a government news release issued on Sunday.
Officials from Pakistani ministries joined virtually. The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), which acts as the task force secretariat, coordinated the session from Pakistan.
GCC free trade pact and market access
Pakistan stressed the need for early signing of the Pakistan–Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Free Trade Agreement—a deal that would cut barriers with the six-member Gulf bloc—and asked Qatar to keep supporting the remaining formalities. Islamabad said it had finished its domestic approval process and forwarded the approved text to the GCC Secretariat on 31 December 2025.
The Pakistani side also raised restrictions on bone-in meat exports to Qatar and asked for an early fix, noting that a full technical file on animal health and food safety had already gone to the relevant Qatari authorities.
Food, industry, ports and roads
In agriculture and food security, Pakistan highlighted a proposed memorandum of understanding between the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP)—the state trading body—and Qatar’s Hassad Food for government-to-government supply of Pakistani rice. That draft has been sent to the federal cabinet for approval. Islamabad invited Qatari capital into modern farming, grain silos, cold storage, cold-chain logistics and advanced farm technology, and discussed longer-term food-supply arrangements meant to strengthen food security in both countries.
On industry, Pakistan presented openings in new energy vehicles and electric vehicles under its EV policy, including joint manufacturing, technology transfer and partnerships. It also pitched information technology, digital infrastructure and digital services, citing growing IT exports. In maritime work, it pointed to shipping and transport needs—oil tankers, liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and container vessels—to support energy security and trade links. The proposed Karachi–Hyderabad Motorway was offered as another investment option to link seaports with the road network and transit routes toward Central Asia.
Qatar emphasised closer civil aviation and air-traffic cooperation. Pakistan welcomed that idea and said aviation issues would be handled through the Technical Working Group on Logistics and Communications. An investment fund concept was also floated for Qatari participation in infrastructure, agriculture, industry, IT and other priority areas.
Working groups and next steps
Pakistan urged early activation of the eleven technical working groups agreed at the first task-force meeting, spanning logistics, aviation, advanced manufacturing, mining and minerals, agriculture, tourism, financial technology, healthcare, education, industrial development, IT and startups. It said it had already shared group memberships and asked Qatar to name counterparts so the teams can start work, map concrete deals, clear outstanding issues and prepare sector reports before the third Joint Task Force meeting, which Pakistan will host.
At the close, the two ministers signed the minutes of the first Pakistan–Qatar Joint Task Force meeting and restated their commitment to deeper economic ties through the same framework. Separately in Doha, Jam Kamal met Nan Li Collins, head of the World Investment Forum, to discuss regional cooperation, connectivity and economic integration amid global challenges.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- 31 December 2025: Pakistan completes domestic approval of the Pakistan–GCC Free Trade Agreement text and sends it to the GCC Secretariat.
- April 2026: Inaugural Pakistan–Qatar Joint Task Force meeting on trade and investment; eleven technical working groups are identified.
- 24 October 2026: Second JTF meeting held in Doha; ministers review progress and sign minutes of the first meeting.
- Next: Third JTF meeting to be hosted by Pakistan once working groups begin reporting.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan aur Qatar ke wazeer Doha mein mil kar trade aur investment ki nayi rahein dekh rahe hain. Pakistan chahta hai ke Gulf mulkon ke sath free trade agreement jaldi final ho, jis se asaan market access mil sake. Meat export aur rice supply jaisi baatein bhi uthayi gayi hain. Agar Qatari investment aati hai to storage, gaariyan, IT aur roads jaise sectors mein kaam badh sakta hai.
