Pakistani PM to visit Bahrain

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will visit the Kingdom of Bahrain on Jan. 7-8 at the invitation of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, an official announcement said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Sharif will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said.

It was reported earlier that the two countries would sign several agreements during the visit, during which the prime minister will have meetings with the King and prime minister of Bahrain.

The delegation-level talks and meetings with the King will focus on further enhancement of bilateral relations in various fields, including energy cooperation, manpower employment, trade and investment, and defense, a Foreign Ministry statement said.

The King of Bahrain paid his first state visit to Pakistan in March 2014, when the two countries signed several agreements/ memorandums of understanding on cooperation in the fields of economic development, food security, investment, labor, and water and power.

"Pakistan and Bahrain enjoy excellent bilateral relations in all fields. The two countries also closely cooperate at international forums like the UN and OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation)," the Foreign Ministry said.

Bahrain hosts over 100,000 Pakistanis, who are contributing to the development of the Kingdom and serve as a bridge between the peoples of two countries, it added. Endi