Diplomatic Correspondent:
Dhaka and Islamabad are set to hold the Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting on Monday to discuss a wide range of issues, including economic cooperation, trade and investment after a gap of almost two decades.
To attend the ninth meeting of JEC, Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Ali Parvez Malik is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Sunday.
According to the Foreign Ministry, the meeting will be held in Dhaka on Monday. Both sides are expected to discuss a wide range of issues, including economic cooperation, trade and investment, agricultural support, financial services, and banking.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) may also be signed during the session, official sources said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that Bangladesh will be led by Economic Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, while Pakistan’s delegation will be headed by Petroleum Minister Ali Parvez Malik.
Initially, Pakistan’s Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema was expected to lead the delegation, but the decision was changed at the last moment, with Malik now undertaking a three-day visit to Dhaka.
During his stay, the Pakistani minister is likely to pay courtesy calls on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain.
Bangladesh holds JEC meetings with several countries and blocs, including India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the European Union.
The platform primarily focuses on economic cooperation and sectoral development. The last JEC meeting between Bangladesh and Pakistan took place in Dhaka on 12 September 2005 – marking a 19-year gap since the two sides last convened.
Sources said that Bangladesh has economic interest with Pakistan and wishes to enhance more engagement and cooperation for mutual benefits.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Trade Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin is set to visit Islamabad on 28 October at the invitation of Pakistan’s Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan to discuss bilateral trade cooperation.
