Overview
- The ninth Pakistan–Bangladesh Joint Economic Commission session in Dhaka finalized the port offer, restarting a forum last held in 2005.
- The plan would let Bangladesh ship jute and other goods via Karachi, with the port presented as a gateway to China, Gulf states and Central Asia.
- Pakistan signaled interest in importing Bangladeshi jute and earlier removed a 2% duty to facilitate those purchases.
- India’s trade measures restricting land-route imports of Bangladeshi jute have squeezed exporters, and Dhaka halted yarn imports from India through five land ports.
- Both sides agreed to broaden cooperation in shipping, halal standards, tourism, energy and IT, with commitments to pursue direct flights and appoint ministry focal points to track progress.