KARACHI: Pakistan and Bahrain on Wednesday agreed to deepen cooperation in trade, investment and security during talks between President Asif Ali Zardari and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, as the Bahraini monarch conferred the kingdom’s highest civilian award on the Pakistani leader, the President’s Secretariat said.

Pakistan and Bahrain maintain close diplomatic, defense and labor ties, with cooperation spanning security, trade and manpower. More than 116,000 Pakistanis live and work in Bahrain, forming one of the largest South Asian expatriate communities in the kingdom. Remittances from Gulf states, including Bahrain, remain a key source of foreign exchange for Pakistan.

Trade between the two countries remains modest but has been growing, with Pakistan exporting rice, textiles, meat and agricultural products to Bahrain, while importing aluminum products and petrochemical-related goods. Islamabad has been seeking to attract Bahraini investment into priority sectors amid broader Gulf outreach.

“President Asif Ali Zardari met His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and held comprehensive discussions aimed at further strengthening the close and fraternal relationship between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Bahrain,” the President’s Secretariat said in a statement after the meeting in Manama.

“The President emphasized Pakistan’s desire to translate strong political relations into increased trade and deeper investment linkages,” the statement said, adding that he invited Bahraini investors to explore opportunities in agriculture and food security, IT and digital services, health care, tourism and infrastructure.

“The President also highlighted the long-standing defense and security cooperation between the two countries, describing it as a pillar of the bilateral relationship,” the statement said.

Zardari paid tribute to the Pakistani community in Bahrain, calling them “a vital bridge between the two nations,” and thanked the Bahraini leadership for the support extended to Pakistani workers, according to the statement.

Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to peace, stability and multilateralism and underscored the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in addressing regional challenges, the statement added.

During the visit, King Hamad conferred upon Zardari the Order of Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa First Class, the highest award of the Kingdom of Bahrain, “in recognition of his services and contribution to strengthening Pakistan–Bahrain relations,” the statement said.