ISLAMABAD: Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik met senior Bangladeshi officials in Dhaka on Wednesday to seek increased cooperation in energy, natural resources and connectivity sectors, Pakistan’s petroleum ministry said. 

Pakistan and Bangladesh have attempted to increase economic, trade and investment cooperation in recent months. The two nations organized the ninth session of the Pakistan-Bangladesh Joint Economic Commission (JEC) in Dhaka this Monday after a hiatus of 20 years. 

Pakistan and Bangladesh were part of the same country until a bloody civil war in 1971 caused the latter to secede and become the independent nation of Bangladesh. After the ouster of former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina last year, who had close ties to India, Islamabad and Dhaka have sought to improve their historically bitter ties. 

Malik met senior Bangladeshi officials, including Mohammad Touhid, the country’s adviser for foreign affairs in Dhaka on Wednesday. 

“Both sides expressed satisfaction over the resumption of institutional mechanism meetings between Pakistan and Bangladesh and agreed to further enhance cooperation in various sectors, including connectivity, energy, and natural resources,” the petroleum ministry said. 

Touhid stressed the importance of restoring direct flights between Pakistan and Bangladesh during the meeting, the ministry said. 

Malik also met Sheikh Bashiruddin, Bangladesh’s adviser for commerce, textiles, civil Aviation and tourism, and Mohammad Fauzul Kabir Khan, adviser for energy and mineral Resources. 

The two sides held discussions to strengthen bilateral trade cooperation and collaboration in the energy sector, the petroleum ministry said. 

“Ali Pervez Malik welcomed the convening of the Joint Economic Commission meeting after twenty years, describing it as the beginning of a new chapter in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations,” the statement said.