Singapore on Friday publicly backed Pakistan’s diplomatic push to reduce tensions in the Gulf, calling Islamabad’s role unique, very constructive and valuable, while the two countries agreed to broaden trade, investment and cooperation across several sectors.
The endorsement came at a joint press conference in Islamabad, where Singaporean Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan appeared alongside Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar after delegation-level talks. Balakrishnan said Pakistan was playing an “incredibly valuable” part in regional diplomacy and added that its success would benefit wider interests.
Gulf stability and maritime routes
Balakrishnan linked Gulf tensions to energy and trade far beyond the Middle East. Much of the region’s energy supplies are headed for South, Southeast and Northeast Asia, he said, so keeping the area stable and maritime trade flowing matters to many countries.
He described freedom of navigation and overflight through international straits as rights under international law, not privileges that coastal states can grant or withhold at will. He also welcomed Pakistan’s alignment with Singapore on those points. Dar, for his part, restated Pakistan’s view that disputes should be settled through dialogue, diplomacy, respect for international law and adherence to the United Nations Charter.
Trade office, sectors and direct flights
On the bilateral track, Pakistan has reopened its Trade and Investment Office at the Pakistan High Commission in Singapore. Dar said the step was meant to facilitate business contacts, attract investment and deepen commercial ties, and to encourage closer business-to-business engagement.
The ministers discussed expanding trade and investment with emphasis on information technology, education, agriculture, food security, vocational training, research, innovation and connectivity. Dar said both sides saw considerable untapped potential and agreed to hold regular political consultations, promote high-level exchanges and strengthen institutions so existing understandings become concrete results. They also talked about trade delegations, closer links between chambers of commerce, and the possibility of resuming direct flights to support business, tourism and people-to-people contact.
Disaster management featured prominently. Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)—the federal body that coordinates disaster response—and Singapore’s Civil Defence Force (SCDF) exchanged a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on preparedness and emergency response. Talks also touched digital technologies, artificial intelligence, human resource development and climate-related work. Balakrishnan pointed to carbon markets as a way to draw green investment to Pakistan; both sides stressed sustained institutional engagement on joint projects.
Palestine, ASEAN and meeting with the prime minister
On Palestine, Dar voiced concern over the expansion of Israeli settlements and attempts to change the status of the West Bank and Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem). He called for unhindered humanitarian assistance to Gaza and reaffirmed support for an independent Palestinian state on pre-June 1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
They also discussed Pakistan’s engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the ten-country regional grouping in Southeast Asia. Dar said Islamabad looked forward to working with Singapore as it prepares to chair ASEAN in 2027 while seeking stronger ties with the bloc.
Later in the evening, Balakrishnan called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to longstanding relations with Singapore and praised its economic transformation and innovation record. The two discussed enhancing trade and investment in areas including the digital economy, financial technology, infrastructure, logistics, small and medium-sized enterprises and services, along with regional and international developments.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Singapore ne Pakistan ki Gulf mein pur-amn kaam ki tareef ki aur kaha ke yeh role sab ke liye faida mand hai. Pakistan ne Singapore mein apna trade office dobara khola hai taake business aur investment asaan ho. Dono mulkon ne disaster management par MoU par dastakhat ki. Direct flights wapas shuru karne aur IT, taleem aur agriculture mein cooperation barhane par baat hui.
