Ishaq Dar and Vivian Balakrishnan discuss trade, investment, direct flights, technology, disaster management and regional issues during talks in Islamabad.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Singapore have agreed to strengthen trade and investment ties, expand business-to-business engagement and explore new areas of cooperation as the two countries mark 60 years of diplomatic relations, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Singaporean Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan in Islamabad, Dar said the two sides had discussed expanding economic cooperation through business delegations, stronger links between chambers of commerce and the possible resumption of direct flights.
The visit marks the first by a Singaporean foreign minister to Pakistan in more than two decades. The two ministers held a restricted meeting followed by delegation-level talks covering bilateral relations, trade, investment, technology, education, culture and regional and international developments.
Dar said economic cooperation had been central to the discussions, noting that bilateral trade had grown but remained below its potential.
Balakrishnan agreed that economic relations should be stronger, saying the countries enjoyed excellent diplomatic ties that were not adequately reflected in their trade figures.
He identified closer engagement between small and medium-sized enterprises, stronger business networks and improved investment flows as key priorities. He also highlighted carbon markets as a potential area for cooperation, saying they could help attract investment into Pakistani projects aimed at reducing emissions and supporting sustainable development.
Dar highlighted the reopening of Pakistan’s trade and investment office at its high commission in Singapore, describing the move as part of Islamabad’s efforts to strengthen commercial relations.
He also encouraged Singaporean businesses to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan through the Special Investment Facilitation Council and the Board of Investment. Dar said the two bodies had been merged under the Board of Investment to provide investors with a single platform for information and facilitation.
The ministers also discussed cooperation in education, research, innovation and artificial intelligence. Balakrishnan expressed interest in strengthening links between Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University and National University of Singapore and Pakistan’s National University of Sciences and Technology.
Dar said nearly 1,500 Pakistani officials had benefited from training opportunities provided by Singapore. The two sides also discussed technical and vocational education, including cooperation involving Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education and Pakistan’s National Vocational and Technical Training Commission.
Pakistan, Singapore sign disaster-management cooperation MoU
The two foreign ministers announced the exchange of a memorandum of understanding between Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority and the Singapore Civil Defence Force.
Balakrishnan said the agreement would provide a framework for cooperation in early warning systems, sharing best practices, search-and-rescue capabilities and potentially joint training exercises.
He said climate change had increased the importance of disaster preparedness, adding that Singapore could learn from Pakistan’s experience in responding to floods and other extreme weather events.
Regional and international issues discussed
The discussions also covered tensions in the Gulf, maritime trade, freedom of navigation and the security of international supply chains.
Dar said both countries supported dialogue, diplomacy, international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter in addressing global challenges.
He also briefed his counterpart on Pakistan’s position regarding Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir, reiterating Islamabad’s support for an independent Palestinian state based on pre-June 1967 borders, with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital.
On Jammu and Kashmir, Dar called for a just and durable settlement in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
The ministers also discussed Pakistan’s engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Dar conveyed Pakistan’s best wishes to Singapore ahead of its planned ASEAN chairmanship in 2027.
Shehbaz, Balakrishnan discuss stronger bilateral ties
Earlier, Balakrishnan called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the two leaders discussed expanding cooperation in the digital economy, fintech, infrastructure, logistics, small and medium-sized enterprises and the services sector.
Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening relations with Singapore and appreciated its achievements in economic transformation, innovation and development.
The prime minister also welcomed greater cooperation at bilateral and multilateral forums, including ASEAN.
Balakrishnan welcomed Shehbaz’s acceptance of Singapore’s invitation to visit the country, saying the two sides now needed to translate their commitments into practical results.
The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1966. Their latest discussions focused on building on six decades of friendship through stronger economic partnerships, institutional cooperation and closer people-to-people contacts.
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