President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari was conferred Bahrain’s highest civilian honour, The Order of Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa (First Class), during his official visit to the Gulf nation.

President Zardari was accorded a guard of honour upon his arrival at Qasr Al-Qudaibiya, where he held a meeting with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the longstanding fraternal ties between Pakistan and Bahrain and agreed to expand cooperation across multiple sectors.

During their discussions, both sides expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and emphasized enhancing collaboration in trade, investment, defence, and security. President Zardari invited Bahraini investors to explore opportunities in Pakistan, particularly in agriculture, information technology, healthcare, tourism, and infrastructure, stressing the importance of joint ventures.

Cooperation in defence and security was described as a key pillar of bilateral ties. The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments, underscoring the need for unity, restraint, and continued coordination at international forums, including the United Nations.

President Zardari highlighted the role of the Pakistani community in Bahrain as a strong bridge between the two nations and thanked the Bahraini leadership for hosting over 116,000 Pakistanis. King Hamad University in Islamabad was also termed a symbol of enduring Pakistan-Bahrain friendship.

King Hamad described President Zardari’s visit as a milestone in bilateral relations and hosted a luncheon in honour of the Pakistani delegation.