ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bangladesh discussed the resumption of direct flights between Islamabad, Karachi and Dhaka during a meeting in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, signaling a potential step toward closer bilateral cooperation.
Pakistan and Bangladesh were once one nation but split in 1971 after a bloody civil war, which saw the part previously referred to as East Pakistan secede to form an independent nation.
In the decades since, Bangladeshi leaders, particularly former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid, maintained close ties with India, Pakistan’s arch-rival. However, ties between the two countries warmed up since her ouster in a student-led uprising last year in August, marking a new phase of bilateral relations.
The discussion focusing on the ties between both nations took place between Tareq Ahmed, the newly appointed Bangladeshi envoy to the United Arab Emirates, and Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE.
The interaction happened at Pakistan House in Abu Dhabi.
“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest including cooperation in trade and investment, efforts to increase people-to-people contact, and resumption of direct flights from Islamabad and Karachi to Dhaka, were discussed,” said a statement released after the two diplomats met. “Both sides underscored the importance of supporting the welfare of the large Pakistani and Bangladeshi diaspora in the UAE.”
The Pakistani ambassador highlighted the deep historical and cultural ties between the two nations and stressed the untapped trade potential that could contribute to their economic growth.
His counterpart reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to strengthening ties with Pakistan and emphasized the need for dialogue and cooperation to tackle shared challenges in the region.
There have also been interactions on multilateral forums between the top leaders of both countries since the fall of Wajid’s administration.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar is also scheduled to visit Dhaka in the beginning of February to further consolidate relations between the two countries.
Pakistan, Bangladesh envoys in UAE meet, propose direct flights from Islamabad, Karachi to Dhaka
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Pakistan, Bangladesh envoys in UAE meet, propose direct flights from Islamabad, Karachi to Dhaka
- The two diplomats discuss enhanced trade and investment cooperation, people-to-people contact
- Both envoys agree to support the welfare of the Pakistani and Bangladeshi diaspora in the UAE
FIFA appoints Pakistani lawmaker to its reforms committee— state media
- Syeda Amnah Batool is the only Pakistani representative serving on various FIFA committees, says state media
- Pakistan’s ties with FIFA have seen ups and downs, with the global body suspending Islamabad thrice in eight years
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani lawmaker Syeda Amnah Batool has been appointed to FIFA’s Institutional Reforms Committee, making her the sole representative from her country on various committees of the global football body, state media reported on Thursday.
FIFA’s reforms committee determines how the global football body is governed, operates and interacts with member associations and other football stakeholders.
Syeda Amnah Batool is a member of Pakistan’s National Assembly from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party. She also serves as focal person to the Prime Minister’s Youth Program.
“The appointment marks a significant achievement for Pakistan in both the sporting and diplomatic spheres, as Syeda Amna Batool becomes the sole Pakistani representative currently serving on various FIFA committees,” the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan said in a report.
APP said Batool’s appointment reflects FIFA’s renewed confidence in Pakistan’s institutional direction and its constructive role in global football governance.
The development takes place after FIFA Senior Vice President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa’s three-day visit to Pakistan last month. The FIFA official discussed the development of football infrastructure with Pakistani football executives and government officials during his trip.
Pakistan’s relations with FIFA have improved recently, with the global body suspending Pakistan as a member three times over the past eight months. It last suspended Pakistan in February this year after the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) rejected its electoral reforms.
FIFA lifted the suspension a month later in March when the PFF unanimously approved FIFA’s proposed constitutional amendments in an extraordinary meeting.
Football has long been popular among Pakistan’s youth but in recent years participation has grown at the grassroots level amid rising interest in international leagues.
Local tournaments, school competitions, and community clubs across major cities have further fueled enthusiasm for the sport.
