In a significant step towards closer bilateral relations, Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mohammad Iqbal Hussain, announced on January 28, 2025, that direct flights between Pakistan and Bangladesh would commence in the coming months.
This development is poised to enhance connectivity, bolstering economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
The announcement comes after a shift in relations between Islamabad and Dhaka, following the toppling of Bangladesh’s long-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. Hasina’s ouster, after years of maintaining close ties with India, has paved the way for improved relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Speaking at a meeting with Nasir Mansoor Qureshi, President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Hussain highlighted that the new air connectivity would serve as a vital link, not only for people-to-people contact but also for expanding trade between the two nations. In addition to the passenger flights, Hussain revealed that cargo flights between Dhaka, Karachi, and Lahore would soon be operational, providing a further boost to business exchanges.
“This is a significant development that is set to enhance connectivity and foster stronger economic and cultural ties between the two countries,” Hussain remarked, noting the growing potential for cooperation in a variety of sectors.
Strengthening business ties
Mohammad Iqbal Hussain also emphasized Bangladesh’s commitment to promoting business ties, making it easier for Pakistani citizens to obtain Bangladeshi visas online. The High Commissioner urged both nations to explore joint ventures and industrial collaborations to maximize the benefits of their growing partnership.
Hussain pointed out the numerous opportunities for trade between the two nations, with Pakistan already exporting a wide range of products such as sugar, steel, surgical instruments, cement, dry fruits, pink salt, milk products, marble, and coal to Bangladesh. On the other hand, Pakistan could look to import items like tea and jute from Bangladesh, creating a complementary trade dynamic.
The ICCI President echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that both countries’ business communities could achieve significant milestones through economic diplomacy. He expressed his intentions to visit Bangladesh with a delegation of potential investors, aiming to establish memoranda of understanding with the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other relevant bodies.
Former ICCI Presidents, including Zubair Ahmed Shaikh, Mian Akram Farid, and Mian Shaukat Masood, underscored the potential for enhanced bilateral trade, particularly in sectors like joint ventures, technology transfer, and business-to-business engagements.
With growing optimism, the meeting participants expressed confidence that the launch of direct flights would be a turning point in the bilateral trade relationship, facilitating both economic growth and deeper cultural ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh.
[…] The announcement of cargo flights follows Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mohammad Iqbal Hussain’s earlier statement that direct flights were expected to begin within a few months. […]