PM leaves for Bahrain today

Prime Minister Imran Khan will be travelling to Bahrain today (Monday) to attend country's 'National Day' as a guest on the invitation of King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa and will be awarded the highest civil award: "King Isa Award".

An official told Business Recorder that the Prime minister will be awarded highest civil Award 'King Isa Award' during his visit to Bahrain and stated that visit is expecting to further boost trade and investment relations between the two sides. He also confirmed that prime minister will be travelling to Geneva from Bahrain to attend a refugee conference and last leg of his visit would be Malaysia.

A high-level delegation including members of the cabinet and senior government officials will be accompanying the prime minister whose first visit this would be to Bahrain since he assuming the office around one a half-year-ago (precisely) seventeen months. The Media also reported Foreign Office as confirming prime Minister's departure to Bahrain today.

During the visit, he will have one-on-one meeting with Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa and hold delegation-level talks with Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa.

The exchange of views would cover the entire gamut of bilateral relations and matters pertaining to regional and international issues. Pakistan and Bahrain enjoy close cordial ties based on commonalities of faith and culture and marked by mutual trust and understanding.

The bilateral relationship is broad-based and multifaceted, covering diverse fields including political, trade, commercial, defence, people-to-people contacts. Frequent high-level exchanges are a hallmark of the relationship. Pakistan and Bahrain closely coordinate in multilateral forum, including the UN, OIC and GCC.

The two countries have established institutional mechanisms, including bilateral political consultations and Joint Ministerial Commission, to bolster bilateral cooperation in diverse fields. The two countries also enjoy close inter-parliamentary cooperation. Over 100,000 Pakistanis are living there and contributes to the socio-economic development of Bahrain.

The Prime Minister's visit to Bahrain will enable the two sides to explore ways and means to further deepen bilateral trade and investments ties. The visit is of special significance and will impart a strong impetus to both sides' endeavours to forge a closer, multifaceted bilateral relationship.