Pakistan Urges Qatar to Accelerate GCC Free Trade Deal

Pakistan asked Qatar to speed up the signing of a free trade agreement with the GCC, after completing domestic approvals and sending the text to the GCC Secretariat.

NationPulse Desk

Oct 26, 2026 · 10:35 AM 2 min read

Key takeaways

Pakistan asked Qatar to help fast-track a GCC free trade agreement during a joint task force meeting in Doha on October 24.

Pakistan completed domestic approval and sent the agreement text to the GCC Secretariat on December 31, 2025.

It sought removal of Qatar's restrictions on Pakistan's bone-in meat and proposed a rice supply deal with Hassad Food.

Investment opportunities were presented in EVs, IT, maritime shipping and the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway.

Pakistan called for 11 technical working groups to prepare sector-wise recommendations before the next task force meeting.

Pakistan requested Qatar's assistance to hasten the signing of a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council, as both nations look to boost bilateral trade and investment.

The appeal came during the second Pakistan-Qatar Joint Task Force on Trade and Investment meeting, co-chaired by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs Dr. Ahmad bin Mohammed Al-Sayed in Doha on October 24.

Pakistan told the gathering it had finished its domestic approval process and forwarded the approved agreement text to the GCC Secretariat on December 31, 2025, urging Qatar to help speed up the remaining steps.

Pakistan Seeks to Expand Agricultural Trade

It also asked Qatar to lift limits on Pakistan's bone-in meat exports, noting that a technical dossier meeting animal health and food safety standards had already been submitted.

The parties talked about a proposed deal between the Trading Corporation of Pakistan and Qatar's Hassad Food to supply Pakistani rice under a government-to-government framework, a proposal now pending federal cabinet approval.

Pakistan further invited Qatari investment in modern farming, grain storage, silos, cold-storage, cold-chain infrastructure and advanced agricultural technologies.

Qatar Invited to Invest in EVs and Infrastructure

Investment prospects in electric vehicles, automobile manufacturing, information technology and digital infrastructure were presented by Pakistan.

Maritime opportunities were highlighted, including Qatar's participation in shipping and the security of oil tankers, LNG carriers and container vessels, as well as the proposed Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway to improve links between seaports, the national road network and regional trade routes.

Pakistan also introduced a concept for an investment fund covering infrastructure, agriculture, industrial development and information technology.

Both Countries Seek Stronger Economic Cooperation

Pakistan called for the early start of eleven technical working groups covering agriculture, logistics, aviation, advanced manufacturing, mining, tourism, healthcare, fintech, education, IT and startups.

The groups are expected to pinpoint trade and investment opportunities, resolve outstanding issues and produce sector-specific recommendations before the third joint task force meeting, which Pakistan will host.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deeper trade facilitation and investment cooperation. At the meeting, Jam Kamal Khan and Al-Sayed signed the minutes of the first joint task force meeting.

Questions and answers

When did Pakistan send the approved FTA text to the GCC Secretariat?

Pakistan sent the approved agreement text to the GCC Secretariat on December 31, 2025.

What sectors are included in the proposed technical working groups?

The groups will cover agriculture, logistics, aviation, advanced manufacturing, mining, tourism, healthcare, financial technology, education, IT and startups.