ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has offered Bangladesh the use of the Karachi Port Trust and the establishment of a knowledge corridor.
The ninth Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting between the two countries was held in Dhaka, in which several decisions were taken to promote bilateral economic, trade and development cooperation.
The meeting was jointly chaired by Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervez Malik and Bangladesh’s Advisor on Finance Dr. Salahuddin Ahmed. Federal Minister Ali Pervez Malik said in the meeting that the relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh are based on mutual respect and friendship. He thanked the Bangladeshi government for hosting the meeting and said that the scope of cooperation between the two countries would be further expanded.
According to the meeting communiqué, Pakistan offered Bangladesh the use of Karachi Port Trust, which would enable Bangladesh to expand trade with China and other countries in the region, including Central Asian countries. The two countries stressed on increasing cooperation between their national shipping corporations.
Similarly, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in halal trade was signed between the Pakistan Halal Authority and the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute. The meeting also proposed the establishment of a Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor, under which Pakistan offered to provide 500 fully funded scholarships for Bangladeshi students.
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