Pakistan and Qatar have formally agreed to a significant expansion of their strategic ties, with a pronounced focus on defence collaboration and investment, following a pivotal meeting in Doha between President Asif Ali Zardari and Qatar”s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Sheikh Saud.

According to a statement today, the high-level dialogue, supported by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), saw the leadership from both nations commit to ushering in a new chapter of bilateral cooperation in the economic, defence, and agricultural domains.

Central to the new agreement is a plan to bolster military-to-military engagement. Both sides emphasized the necessity of conducting joint military exercises, facilitating the exchange of defence technology, and promoting the sharing of professional expertise between their respective armed forces.

During the discussions, the Qatari Defence Minister conveyed a keen interest in accelerating defence cooperation and voiced his appreciation for the professionalism demonstrated by Pakistan”s military.

This enhanced partnership is anticipated to provide substantial momentum to Pakistan”s defence industry and its export capabilities. The collaboration is also projected to advance modern technology adoption, foster agricultural development, and attract increased investment.

The SIFC continues to be instrumental in navigating and driving Pakistan”s progress across the agricultural, economic, and defence sectors.