Qatar and Pakistan have taken a step to strengthen their economic ties by launching a joint trade and investment working group, holding its first meeting on Wednesday.

The virtual session was co-chaired by Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed, and Pakistan’s Federal Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal Khan. The meeting came ahead of an expected visit to Doha by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif later this week.

In his opening remarks, Al Sayed said the talks were taking place at a time when global supply chains and trade flows were under strain, stressing the need for closer coordination to turn longstanding ties into concrete investment opportunities.

Officials said that trade reached $3.25bn in 2025, highlighting steady growth in economic relations and the potential for further expansion. Discussions focused on scaling cooperation across priority sectors, including infrastructure development, food security, manufacturing, logistics and supply chains, as well as the digital economy.

Both sides also explored ways to facilitate trade, support exports, and enhance air and maritime connectivity between the two markets.

Participants stressed the importance of the private sector and the joint business council in advancing commercial relations, alongside efforts to increase joint investments and build more resilient, diversified supply chains.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to maintain close coordination through the working group, with both countries aiming to expand trade volumes, attract investment, and strengthen a long-term economic partnership that supports sustainable growth.