ISLAMABAD: King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa on Monday conferred Bahrain’s highest civilian recognition on Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Khan arrived at Manama on his first visit to the country since assuming office in August 2018, the PM Office said in a statement.
Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, received the Pakistani premier accompanied by a high-level delegation.
“During the visit, (the prime minister) will have a one-on-one meeting with His Majesty Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa and hold delegation-level talks with Crown Prince His Royal Highness Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa,” said the official statement. “The exchange of views would cover the entire gamut of bilateral relations and matters pertaining to regional and international issues.”
“Pakistan and Bahrain enjoy close cordial ties based on commonalities of faith and culture and marked by mutual trust and understanding,” the statement added. “The bilateral relationship is broad-based and multifaceted, covering diverse fields … Pakistan and Bahrain closely coordinate in multilateral fora including the UN, OIC, and GCC.”
The ministry noted that the two countries had also established institutional mechanisms, including Bilateral Political Consultations and Joint Ministerial Commission, to bolster bilateral cooperation.
“Over 100,000 Pakistani expatriate community, which contributes to the socio-economic development of Bahrain, acts as a strong human bridge between the two countries,” the official handout maintained.
“The Prime Minister’s visit to Bahrain will enable the two sides to explore ways and means to further deepen bilateral trade and investments ties,” the statement continued. “The visit is of special significance and will impart a strong impetus to both sides’ endeavors to forge a closer, multifaceted bilateral relationship.”