Pakistan鈥檚 deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar is set to arrive Dhaka on Saturday on a two-day official visit, during which Dhaka and Islamabad are expected to sign several bilateral cooperation agreements, reports Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.
Foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain would hold talks with Ishak Dar on Sunday morning at the state guest house Padma, a senior official of the foreign ministry told BSS.
The visit is expected to see the signing of four to five memorandums of understanding to strengthen bilateral ties in the fields of trade, culture, media, training, and travel, the official said.
Following the talks and signing of the deal, the foreign adviser will brief the media.
Pakistan鈥檚 commerce minister Jam Kamal Khan is also likely to join the bilateral meeting.
Later in the evening, both Pakistan ministers are expected to call on chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.
The last ministerial-level visit from Islamabad took place in November 2012, when the then foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar came to Dhaka.
Renewed diplomatic engagement between Dhaka and Islamabad gained momentum after last year鈥檚 political transition in Bangladesh.
The two countries have also initiated direct shipping, ease visa and trade regimes, and are preparing to launch direct flights.
Pakistani airline Fly Jinnah has secured approval to operate on the Dhaka鈥揔arachi route, while Air Sial has applied for permission, officials said.
Ishaq Dar鈥檚 previous scheduled visit to Bangladesh in April was postponed amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and India following a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Later, both sides finalised the new date through mutual consultations.
United News of Bangladesh reported that Pakistan would begin direct flights with Bangladesh by the end of 2025, with an expectation to get help in trade and business between the two countries.
Jam Kamal Khan, the commerce minister of Pakistan, confirmed the matter in a meeting at the Chattogram World Trade Center Friday noon.
Sheikh Bashir Uddin, the commerce adviser of Bangladesh and other business leaders from various sectors of Chattogram were present at the meeting.
Various other issues, such as import-export of leather, sugar, garment items, agriculture and food products were also subjects of discussion in the meeting.
Commerce adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin said that the meeting focused on growing trade and making business stronger. 鈥楾he government wants to build strong trade ties with as many countries as possible.鈥�
The Pakistani minister also visited Chattogram Port and factories while officials from Chattogram Chamber of Commerce were present.
In July last week, Bangladesh and Pakistan expressed deep concern over the ongoing Israeli aggression and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Palestine, reiterating their unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and their just cause.
The message was conveyed during a meeting between Ishaq Dar and Touhid Hossain, held on the sidelines of the International Conference on the Two-State Solution at the United Nations.
