The leaders of Pakistan and Bahrain today agreed that the establishment of peace and stability for the people of Gaza is long overdue, addressing the conflict during a summit that also saw Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif conferred with the Kingdom of Bahrain”s most prestigious award.

During the official meeting, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa bestowed the Order of Bahrain (first class) upon the visiting premier. The honour is recognized as the highest award given by the nation to foreign heads of state and government.

The Bahraini monarch also highlighted a unique historical connection, informing the Prime Minister that Pakistan”s founder, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, had once served as the kingdom of Bahrain”s lawyer for a significant period.

Both leaders reviewed the encouraging momentum in the two countries” relationship and mutually consented to further enhance cooperation across political, economic, defence, and cultural domains. The Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties, which are founded on shared faith and mutual respect.

On the economic front, the Pakistani leader expressed a desire to expand trade and investment, noting that bilateral commerce is poised to grow with the Pakistan-GCC Free Trade Agreement, now in its final stages. He extended an invitation to Bahraini investors to explore opportunities in sectors like food security, IT, and healthcare through the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).

The longstanding defence partnership was a key point of discussion, with both sides reaffirming its importance. They agreed to continue strengthening cooperation in areas including training, logistics, manpower, and joint defence production.

Prime Minister Sharif expressed his gratitude for Bahrain’s generous support, citing the establishment of the King Hamad University for Nursing and Allied Medical Sciences in Islamabad, which was inaugurated in September 2025. He also conveyed appreciation for the kingdom’s solidarity following recent terrorist incidents in Pakistan and for the support provided to the over 150,000-strong Pakistani community, including a recent pardon for Pakistani prisoners.

The meeting concluded with both sides expressing confidence that the official visit would further consolidate the enduring friendship and strategic cooperation between the two nations.