Pakistan and Qatar have reviewed progress on their bilateral economic ties at the second meeting of the Joint Task Force (JTF) on Trade and Investment in Doha, where Islamabad asked Doha to help fast track the Pakistan and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Free Trade Agreement (FTA), sought relief on curbs on bone in meat exports and invited Qatari investment in agriculture, automobiles, information technology (IT), maritime transport and infrastructure. Federal Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan co chaired the meeting on October 24 with Qatar Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs Dr Ahmad bin Mohammed Al-Sayed, according to a press release. Officials from relevant Pakistani ministries joined virtually, while the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), which acts as the secretariat of the JTF, coordinated from Pakistan, and the two sides took stock of developments since the first meeting in April 2026.
On the GCC FTA, Pakistan asked Qatar to keep supporting efforts to complete the remaining formalities, and it noted that it had finished its domestic approvals and sent the cleared text to the GCC Secretariat on December 31, 2025. Islamabad also asked for an early resolution of restrictions on bone in meat exports to Qatar, pointing out that a detailed technical dossier on animal health and food safety requirements had been handed to the concerned Qatari authorities. In agriculture and food security, Pakistan raised a proposed memorandum of understanding between the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) and Qatar Hassad Food for government to government rice supplies, which awaits approval from the Federal Cabinet, and it invited Qatari capital into modern farming, grain storage, silos, cold storage, integrated cold chain networks and advanced agricultural technology.
On industry, Pakistan presented opportunities in the auto sector, especially new energy vehicles (NEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs) under its new EV policy, including joint manufacturing, technology transfer and industrial tie ups. It also pitched IT and digital infrastructure, citing rising IT exports and room for partnerships and the expansion of digital services. In shipping, Pakistan flagged scope for cooperation in maritime transport, particularly in securing oil tankers, liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and container vessels to support energy security and trade connectivity. The proposed new Karachi to Hyderabad Motorway was offered as an investment prospect that would link seaports with the national road network and ease regional transit trade, especially with Central Asia, while Pakistan also floated an Investment Fund open to Qatari participation in infrastructure, agriculture, industrial development, IT and other priority areas.
Qatar stressed stronger cooperation in civil aviation and air traffic, and Pakistan welcomed the proposal and said that aviation matters would also be taken up by the Technical Working Group on Logistics and Communications. Pakistan urged the early activation of the eleven Technical Working Groups that were set up at the first meeting, covering logistics, aviation, advanced manufacturing, mining and minerals, agriculture, tourism, fintech, healthcare, education, industrial development, and IT and startups, and it asked Qatar to send its nominations soon. At the end of the meeting, Jam Kamal Khan and Dr Al-Sayed signed the minutes of the first meeting, and Pakistan will host the third. Separately, Jam Kamal Khan met Nan Li Collins, head of the World Investment Forum, in Doha to discuss regional cooperation, connectivity and coordinated action on shared economic challenges.
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