Dhaka: Pakistan's Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal met with newly elected Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka today, extending an invitation for the Prime Minister to visit Pakistan at a mutually convenient date. The discussions centered around strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing regional cooperation to promote peace, stability, and shared prosperity.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Planning Minister emphasized the revival of SAARC as essential for promoting regional connectivity and advancing a shared geo-economic vision for South Asia. He highlighted that historical conflicts have left South Asia as one of the least integrated regions and underscored the potential for Pakistan and Bangladesh to collaborate in creating a more integrated and economically vibrant South Asia.

A significant proposal from Ahsan Iqbal included establishing a "Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor" aimed at enhancing academic, research, and technological collaboration. He announced that the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan would visit Bangladesh to explore twin-university agreements and promote exchange programs for students and faculty.

The Planning Minister also announced enhanced academic cooperation, including 500 scholarship opportunities, with 75 students already proceeding to Pakistan for higher education. Discussions also covered institutional collaborations, with both sides agreeing on the exchange of expertise in data systems, digital governance, and capacity building between their respective national organizations.

Opportunities for cooperation in SMEs and cottage industries were also highlighted, suggesting that through their combined populations, Pakistan and Bangladesh can capture a larger share in global markets for technology-enabled services and goods production. Expanding direct flight operations and improving connectivity were identified as crucial steps for facilitating trade, tourism, and people-to-people contacts.

Minister Ahsan Iqbal proposed the revival of the Iqbal Academy and suggested joint celebrations of Allama Muhammad Iqbal's 150th birth anniversary next year, symbolizing shared intellectual and cultural heritage. Representing the Prime Minister of Pakistan at the oath-taking ceremony, Minister Iqbal conveyed congratulations to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on behalf of the Government and people of Pakistan.