ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bangladesh started their first Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in 15 years on Thursday, according to a media report from a Dhaka-based newspaper, signaling a thaw in relations long strained by historical grievances and regional alignments.
The meeting in Dhaka comes amid significant political shifts in Bangladesh following the ouster of its pro-India Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid in the wake of a popular student uprising in August last year. Her departure opened avenues for Islamabad to reengage with Dhaka.
The two nations have shared a tumultuous history, as Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan in 1971.
The complicated past between the two countries has often hampered their diplomatic relations, though recent developments, including Bangladesh’s interim government’s outreach to Pakistan and cooling ties with India, suggest a recalibration of regional partnerships.
“The Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between Bangladesh and Pakistan started in Dhaka this morning (17 April), marking the first such meeting since 2010,” the Business Standard, a prominent English-language daily published from Dhaka, reported.
“Foreign Secretary [Muhammad] Jashim Uddin and Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch are leading their respective sides at the FOC being held at the foreign ministry,” it continued.
The consultations are expected to pave the way for a visit by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Bangladesh later this month, which would mark the first such visit by a Pakistani foreign minister since 2012.
While Pakistani authorities have not yet issued a statement regarding Baloch’s visit, the renewed diplomatic engagement highlights a mutual interest in strengthening bilateral ties.
In recent months, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus have met on the sidelines of international forums, including the United Nations General Assembly in New York and the D-8 Summit in Cairo.
These interactions have been described as cordial, with both leaders expressing a desire to deepen bilateral cooperation.
Yunus has also met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bangkok, where discussions included Bangladesh’s request for the extradition of ex-premier Wajid, who has gone into exile in India and issued multiple anti-government statements against Yunus’s interim administration.
Pakistan and Bangladesh hold first Foreign Office Consultations in 15 years — media
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Pakistan and Bangladesh hold first Foreign Office Consultations in 15 years — media
- Media reports from Bangladesh say Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch is in Dhaka for talks
- The consultations are expected to pave the way for Pakistan’s deputy PM’s Dhaka visit later this month
Pakistan’s seafood exports to China hit nearly $255 million in 2025 as market reach widens
- Frozen fish and cephalopods lead exports as shipments expand beyond China’s coastal hubs
- Growth reflects Pakistan’s push to diversify exports and tap China’s inland consumer markets
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s seafood exports to China rose to nearly $255 million in 2025, underscoring Beijing’s growing importance as a destination for Pakistani marine products, according to data from China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) published by state-run APP on Monday.
The figures point to a broader geographic and product diversification of Pakistan’s seafood trade with China at a time when Islamabad is seeking to boost foreign exchange earnings and reduce reliance on a narrow set of export sectors.
“The gains were driven by sustained demand for frozen fish, cephalopods, and a growing range of processed seafood products in both coastal and inland markets,” APP said in a report, citing China Customs data.
Frozen fish remained the single largest export category, contributing about $64.6 million to Pakistan’s seafood shipments to China. Imports were concentrated in major coastal and metropolitan entry points, with Guangdong province emerging as the largest destination by value and volume, importing 8.48 million kilograms worth $15.7 million. Shandong and Beijing followed, each exceeding 7 million kilograms, while Shanghai, Tianjin and Zhejiang also recorded substantial volumes.
At the same time, smaller but notable shipments were recorded in inland provinces including Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou and Chongqing, suggesting a widening distribution footprint supported by expanding cold-chain logistics and growing demand away from China’s traditional port cities.
Cephalopods emerged as another key growth pillar. Exports of frozen cuttlefish and squid reached nearly $31 million, while frozen octopus rose to almost $12 million, reflecting demand from catering chains and seafood processors supplying China’s foodservice and ready-to-cook segments.
Affordable pelagic fish also performed strongly. Frozen sardines, sardinella, brisling and sprats recorded imports of around $14.9 million, supported by household consumption and mass-market food manufacturers.
In addition to core frozen categories, Pakistan exported roughly $14.4 million each in two higher-value segments classified by China Customs as “fish” and “fish products,” indicating a gradual shift toward processed and value-added seafood lines.
Analysts cited in the APP report attributed the overall growth to improved compliance with Chinese food safety standards, expanded approvals for Pakistani processing facilities and competitive pricing backed by Pakistan’s marine resource base. Investments in cold-chain logistics and streamlined customs procedures were also seen as supporting higher volumes and broader market access.
