Key Takeaways
- Pakistan has requested Qatar’s assistance to expedite the signing of a free trade agreement with the GCC.
- The request was made during a meeting in Doha on October 24, 2026.
- Pakistan aims to expand trade and investment opportunities with Qatar and the GCC.
Pakistan has formally requested Qatar’s support to fast-track the signing of a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as discussed during the second meeting of the Pakistan-Qatar Joint Task Force on Trade and Investment in Doha on October 24, 2026.
Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs, Dr. Ahmad bin Mohammed Al-Sayed, co-chaired the meeting, which aimed to explore ways to enhance bilateral trade and investment.
Pakistan has completed its domestic approval process and has sent the approved agreement text to the GCC Secretariat, with a deadline of December 31, 2025, for the remaining formalities.
The country has also called for the resolution of restrictions on its bone-in meat exports to Qatar, stating that it has already submitted a technical dossier addressing animal health and food safety requirements.
Pakistan proposed a government-to-government agreement between the Trading Corporation of Pakistan and Qatar’s Hassad Food for supplying Pakistani rice, with the proposal submitted to the federal cabinet for approval.
The discussions also covered potential investments in modern agriculture, grain storage, silos, cold storage, cold-chain infrastructure, and advanced farming technologies.
Pakistan invited Qatari investment in electric vehicles, automobile manufacturing, information technology, and digital infrastructure, highlighting opportunities for joint manufacturing, technology transfer, and industrial partnerships.
In the maritime sector, Pakistan highlighted the potential for Qatar to invest in shipping and secure oil tankers, liquefied natural gas carriers, and container vessels, as well as the proposed Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway to improve connectivity.
The concept of an investment fund covering infrastructure, agriculture, industrial development, and information technology was also presented by Pakistan.
Both countries agreed to establish 11 technical working groups covering sectors including agriculture, logistics, aviation, advanced manufacturing, mining, tourism, healthcare, financial technology, education, IT, and startups. These groups aim to identify specific trade and investment opportunities and prepare sector-wise recommendations for the third meeting of the joint task force, which Pakistan will host.
