Staff Correspondent

High Commissioner of Pakistan to Bangladesh Imran Haider paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister’s Public Administration Adviser (Minister status) and BNP Standing Committee Member Md. Ismail Zabiullah at his Secretariat office on Wednesday.

A three-member delegation led by the High Commissioner attended the meeting to discuss strengthening bilateral ties, expanding trade, and fostering cooperation in civil service training, education, healthcare, and industrial sectors.

During the discussion, both sides expressed interest in setting up joint-venture sports goods manufacturing plants in Bangladesh with renowned sports equipment manufacturers from Sialkot, Pakistan. The proposal covers the production of various sports items including tennis balls, alongside technology transfer, skill development, and local manufacturing capacity enhancement. Exchanging experiences and training between athletes of the two countries was also highlighted.

To enhance civil service efficiency and exchange mutual administrative experience, the Pakistan government expressed interest in signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between key training institutes. High Commissioner Imran Haider noted that Pakistan wishes to sign MoUs linking the Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC) with Pakistan’s National School of Public Policy (NSPP), and the Bangladesh Civil Service Administration Academy (BCSAA) with the Civil Service Academy (CSA) of Pakistan.

He informed that 12 Bangladeshi civil servants have already completed training in Pakistan, while the training of another 35 officers is currently underway. He expressed optimism that such professional exchanges will foster mutual understanding and help reduce trade imbalances. Recalling past ties, Adviser Ismail Zabiullah referred to the Inter-Wing Scholarship Program that existed between students of East and West Pakistan prior to the Liberation War.

On trade expansion, the High Commissioner stated that Pakistan maintains a duty-free annual import quota for 10,000 metric tonnes of Bangladeshi tea, highlighting strong potential for growth. Potential exports of pineapples and shrimp from Bangladesh to Pakistan were also discussed, with both sides emphasizing necessary steps to boost trade in these commodities.

In the healthcare sector, the High Commissioner offered free liver transplants for 10 Bangladeshi patients annually at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Center. He also proposed specialized liver transplant training for Bangladeshi doctors and nurses to deepen medical cooperation and promote medical tourism. Furthermore, he outlined avenues for collaboration across pharmaceuticals, tourism, jute, education, and aviation.

High Commissioner Haider remarked that the resumption of direct flights between Dhaka and Karachi after a 14-year hiatus will play a pivotal role in boosting people-to-people contact and bolstering bilateral relations. Both sides expressed optimism about capitalizing on shared opportunities to expand trade, investment, and diplomatic cooperation.