Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal met Bangladesh Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka, reaffirming both countries’ commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.

The meeting took place during Ahsan Iqbal’s visit to Bangladesh to attend the oath-taking ceremony of prime minister-elect Tarique Rahman.

During the meeting, Iqbal congratulated Yunus and the people of Bangladesh on the successful conduct of elections. He appreciated the democratic transition and conveyed Pakistan’s goodwill for the new leadership in Dhaka.

Focus on boosting bilateral relations

Both leaders discussed enhancing Pakistan-Bangladesh relations across multiple sectors. Key areas of focus included increasing bilateral trade, expanding people-to-people contacts, and reviving direct air connectivity between the two countries.

Iqbal thanked the chief adviser for his role in strengthening cooperation across various spheres.

Prof Yunus, while recalling his meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, noted that Pakistan and Bangladesh share numerous affinities that provide a strong foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation.

Scholarships highlighted

The minister also briefed Yunus on the Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships under the Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor initiative. He informed Yunus that the first batch of Bangladeshi students awarded the scholarships has already joined their respective universities in Pakistan.

Prof Yunus welcomed the initiative and expressed hope that academic, cultural, and broader people-to-people exchanges would further increase in the coming days.

Visit for oath-taking

Ahsan Iqbal is in Dhaka to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Tarique Rahman as the prime minister of Bangladesh.

The visit underscores renewed diplomatic engagement between Islamabad and Dhaka, with both sides signaling a desire to expand cooperation in trade, education, connectivity, and cultural exchanges.