Pakistan's strategic, diplomatic and commercial ties with Bahrain and the GCC have continued to deepen, as the South Asian country marks its 79th Independence Day today.
Strong co-operation in defence, security and trade between the two sides has built on a decades-long partnership.
On the strategic forefront is the growing collaboration between the Bahrain National Guard and the Pakistani Armed Forces.
Earlier this year, the two sides concluded the ‘Al Badr 9’ joint military exercise in Pakistan, focusing on counter-terrorism and operational readiness.
This was followed by high-level meetings between Bahrain’s National Guard Commander General Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa, and Pakistan’s top military leadership to review regional security, address shared challenges and enhance the work of the Bahrain-Pakistan joint security committee.
Economic co-operation also remains a priority.
According to the Bahrain Chamber, bilateral trade is on a growth trajectory, with Bahraini exports to Pakistan including petroleum and aluminium products, and imports from Pakistan comprising meat, vegetables, rice and textiles.
The bilateral trade between the two countries is valued between $112 million and $1 billion.
Beyond trade and investment, the Pakistani community continues to play a vital role in Bahrain’s development, with skilled workers contributing in healthcare, construction, engineering and finance.
There are also opportunities for expanding collaboration in training, higher education and vocational programmes between the two countries’ institutions.
Last year, Pakistan’s first nursing university funded by Bahrain, the King Hamad University of Nursing and Associated Medical Sciences, opened its doors in Islamabad, and is expected to cater to 2,000 students and offer advanced programmes.
Pakistan has long considered Bahrain as a second home for its nationals, with both governments acknowledging the deep people-to-people ties and the Pakistani government expressing gratitude to His Majesty King Hamad and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for their consistent support and hospitality towards the community.
As the two nations celebrate Pakistan’s Independence Day, the shared focus on security, economic co-operation and human capital exchange signals a partnership ready to advance into a new era of collaboration.
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