Deep and historic ties between Bahrain and Pakistan

14th August 1947 was a momentous occasion when the Muslims of the Sub-continent established a separate homeland, an independent and sovereign country, Pakistan. Today Pakistanis living within the country, abroad and in the Kingdom of Bahrain are celebrating the 75th Independence Day of Pakistan. I wish to extend my heartiest felicitations to all Pakistanis on the 75th Independence Day. 14th August reminds us of the epic democratic struggle of our forefathers for securing a separate homeland, where they could fashion their lives according to their religious, cultural and social values.

On this auspicious occasion, we pay tribute to the Father of the nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and all the leaders of the Independence Movement who united Muslims of British India and struggled for the creation of an Independent Muslim State. Pakistan and the Kingdom of Bahrain enjoy longstanding ties, rooted in our common faith, and shared cultural and social values. Bilateral relations between Pakistan and Bahrain are based on solidarity, fraternity, mutual trust and support.

The ties between the two nations are deep and historic. Frequent high-level exchanges have deepened bilateral relations. The high point of bilateral relations came when His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa visited Pakistan in 2014. Last year the two countries celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. We celebrated the epoch-making milestone with a renewed commitment to strengthening the existing ties in all areas of mutual interest in the next 50 years and beyond. There are a lot of mutually beneficial opportunities in trade and investment, food security, energy sector, tourism, higher education, training, and development.

In the investment sector, ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor provides enormous opportunities to Bahraini investors, especially in the energy sector. Pakistan’s geo-strategic location makes it a natural regional economic hub and energy corridor. Likewise, Bahrain’s location makes it an ideal gateway to GCC’s economy. Pakistan is a land of great ancient civilizations, sacred religious places, the highest mountains and peaks, wild deserts, and pristine beaches. We invite our Bahraini friends to visit Pakistan and enjoy the scenic beauty, rich culture, and hospitality. We also invite the business community to benefit from the vast potential of project investments in the tourism sector in Pakistan, especially in infrastructure projects such as hotels, resorts, and parks. Likewise, I plan to promote Bahrain as a tourist destination for Pakistanis. Over 100000 Pakistanis living in Bahrain are a great source of pride for us.

They are making valuable contributions to the socio-development of the Kingdom. They consider Bahrain as their home and are known for hard work, dedication, and loyalty. They are treated with respect and well taken care of, as witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, for which we are thankful to the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and the Bahraini government. On this day we all renew our pledge to build Pakistan on the ideals of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, following the principles of faith, unity and discipline. This is the day to reaffirm our resolve to stand firm, strong and united against all the challenges, and to continue our journey on the path to making Pakistan a more prosperous and vibrant place for our next generation.