Pakistan and Qatar have moved to deepen trade and investment ties at the second meeting of the Pakistan–Qatar Joint Task Force on Trade and Investment, held in Doha on 24 October and reported on Sunday.

The meeting was co-chaired by Pakistan's Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs, Dr Ahmad bin Mohammed Al-Sayed. Representatives of relevant Pakistani ministries joined virtually, with the Special Investment Facilitation Council coordinating proceedings from Pakistan. It reviewed progress since the inaugural meeting in April 2026.

The GCC trade deal at the top of the agenda

Pakistan pressed Qatar to support the early signing of the Pakistan–Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Free Trade Agreement, saying it had completed its domestic approval process and forwarded the approved agreement text to the GCC Secretariat on 31 December 2025. The pact would remove tariff barriers across multiple sectors, and Pakistan sought Qatar's help in completing the remaining formalities.

Pakistan also raised restrictions on its bone-in meat exports to Qatar, asking for an early resolution and saying it had already shared a technical dossier addressing animal health and food safety requirements with the Qatari authorities.

Investment pitches, from rice to motorways

In agriculture and food security, Pakistan highlighted a proposed memorandum of understanding between the Trading Corporation of Pakistan and Qatar's Hassad Food for the supply of Pakistani rice under a government-to-government arrangement. It also invited Qatari investment in modern agriculture, grain storage, silos and cold-chain infrastructure.

The meeting also presented opportunities in electric vehicles and technology partnerships, in shipping — including securing oil tankers and LNG carriers — and in the proposed new Karachi–Hyderabad Motorway as an investment opportunity. The two ministers signed the minutes of the first meeting; Pakistan will host the third.

Source: Fana News (QNA)