Pakistan and Qatar have agreed to widen economic ties after the second meeting of the Pakistan-Qatar Joint Task Force on Trade and Investment in Doha. Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs, Dr Ahmad bin Mohammed Al-Sayed, co-chaired the session on 24 October, reviewing progress since the first meeting in April 2026 and mapping fresh openings for Pakistan Qatar trade, investment and industrial partnerships.
The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), which acts as the task force secretariat, coordinated from Pakistan, while officials from relevant Pakistani ministries joined virtually. At the close, the two ministers signed the minutes of the first Joint Task Force meeting. A fuller rundown of the Pakistan Qatar trade agenda covering rice, EVs and the motorway sits alongside this report.
GCC free trade deal and market access
Pakistan pressed for early signing of the Pakistan-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Free Trade Agreement—a pact that would cut barriers to commerce with the six-member Gulf bloc—and asked Qatar to help finish the remaining formalities. Officials said Islamabad had completed its domestic approval process and forwarded the approved text to the GCC Secretariat on 31 December 2025.
The Pakistani side also urged Doha to lift restrictions on bone-in meat imports, saying a full technical dossier on animal health and food safety had already been shared with Qatari authorities. Greater market access remains a central plank of the current Pakistan Qatar trade push.
Food, industry and infrastructure pitches
In agriculture and food security, both sides discussed a proposed government-to-government arrangement for Pakistani rice between the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) and Qatar's Hassad Food. The draft has been submitted to the federal cabinet for approval. Pakistan invited Qatari capital into modern farming, grain storage, silos, cold storage, integrated cold-chain systems and advanced agricultural technology, and talked about sustainable supply arrangements meant to strengthen food security.
On industry, Pakistan presented opportunities in new-energy and electric vehicles under its EV policy framework, including joint manufacturing, technology transfer and partnerships. It also encouraged investment in information technology, digital infrastructure and digital services. Maritime talks covered oil tankers, liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and container vessels. Officials flagged the proposed Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway as a possible Qatari investment, saying better port-to-road links could support regional trade toward Central Asia. Qatar stressed civil aviation and air connectivity, a point Pakistan welcomed. The two sides also exchanged views on a proposed investment fund for priority sectors.
Working groups and what comes next
Pakistan called for early activation of 11 technical working groups covering areas such as logistics, aviation, advanced manufacturing, mining and minerals, agriculture, tourism, financial technology, healthcare, education, IT and startups. Islamabad said it had already shared its nominees and asked Qatar to name counterparts soon so the groups can report trade and investment openings before the third Joint Task Force meeting, which Pakistan will host.
Separately in Doha, Jam Kamal met Nan Li Collins, head of the World Investment Forum, to discuss regional economic integration, connectivity and cooperation amid global economic pressures, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- 31 December 2025: Pakistan forwards the approved Pakistan-GCC Free Trade Agreement text to the GCC Secretariat after completing its domestic approval process.
- April 2026: First meeting of the Pakistan-Qatar Joint Task Force on Trade and Investment.
- 24 October 2026: Second Joint Task Force meeting co-chaired in Doha; ministers sign the minutes of the first meeting.
- Next: Third Joint Task Force meeting to be hosted by Pakistan, after the 11 working groups prepare progress reports.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan aur Qatar ne Doha mein trade aur investment badhane ki baat cheet ki hai. Pakistan chahta hai ke GCC free trade deal jaldi final ho, taake Gulf markets zyada open hon. Chawal supply, meat export aur Qatari investment—agriculture, EV, IT aur motorway—par bhi baat hui. Aam logon ke liye abhi seedha bill change nahi, lekin ye baatein future mein export, jobs aur food supply ko asar de sakti hain.
