Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday that Pakistan was “ready to enhance economic cooperation” with Bahrain in various fields, including agriculture, information technology and artificial intelligence.
He made the remarks while addressing the business community in Manama. The premier had arrived in the country’s capital a day earlier and held delegation-level talks with Bahrain’s leadership at Al Qudaibiya Palace.
In his address, PM Shehbaz said that strategic cooperation had existed between the two countries for decades.
Addressing Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, he said: “Pakistan is ready to enhance economic cooperation with Bahrain in the fields of agriculture, information technology, artificial intelligence, financial technology and all other areas where our two countries can really work together, and create synergy through our efforts and our knowledge and our experience and our commitment to support each other.”
He said ties between Islamabad and Manama were based on cultural, religious, mutual respect and trust. These “are the pillars of our relations”, he added.
He termed his recent meetings with Bahrain’s leadership “extremely productive”.
“I am not a visitor here. I have come here to meet my family members, our Bahraini brothers and sisters,” he said.
“This is what our relationship is all about. Now we have to convert these wonderful relations into economic cooperation,” he added.
The premier highlighted that Pakistan possessed a “great youth bulge”.
“Sixty per cent of our population comprises young boys and girls within the [age] bracket of 15 to 30 years,” he said.
He added that the country was “committed” to converting this challenge into an opportunity by empowering the youth and training them in the fields of information technology and artificial intelligence, along with providing vocational and skills training.
“Together with our Bahraini brothers, entrepreneurs, we will create a great momentum in this field,” he said.
“I think this is the time to really catch up because time and tide wait for none,” PM Shehbaz stressed.
He also talked about the Pakistani community in Bahrain. The premier added that in every country he visited, he interacted with Pakistani communities and listened to the “stories of men and women whose love for Pakistan has never faded, even as they have dedicated their talent, loyalty and hard work to the progress of other nations and cultures”.
“The more I learn of these journeys, the more convinced I become that the Pakistani identity is not bound by geography. It is in the hearts of our people wherever they may be. Here in Bahrain, that spirit is visible beyond any ray of doubt,” he emphasised.
PM Shehbaz appreciated the Pakistanis living in Bahrain for their services to both countries.
“You are great ambassadors of Pakistan, and we are very proud of your contribution to Pakistan’s national economic development,” he said.
“Your hard-earned money, valuable remittances amounting to $484 million in the last financial year, is indeed highly appreciated.”
