ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was bestowed with the coveted Order of Bahrain by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa amid the strengthening of relations between Pakistan and Bahrain.
King Hamad highlighted records showing that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah once served as Bahrain’s legal representative, a reminder of deep and unexpected roots binding the two nations.
PM Shehbaz lauded Bahrain’s leadership for championing peace, coexistence, and tolerance in a region where such values are more crucial than ever. The two leaders held extensive talks, reviewing what they described as a remarkably encouraging upswing in bilateral relations, and agreed to turbocharge cooperation across politics, economics, defence, and culture.
The premier praised Manama’s pivotal role in the creation of King Hamad University for Nursing and Allied Medical Sciences, calling it a symbol of shared commitment to development and human welfare. He also threw open Pakistan’s doors to Bahraini investors, urging them to tap into enormous opportunities in food security, IT, mining, tourism, construction, and healthcare through the Special Investment Facilitation Council.
A key highlight of discussion was PM Shehbaz’s appreciation for the exceptional hospitality offered to more than 150,000 Pakistanis living in Bahrain, along with heartfelt thanks to the monarch for assisting in the repatriation of Pakistani prisoners.
Both countries renewed their pledge to elevate their long-standing defence partnership, agreeing on deeper collaboration in technology, logistics, manpower, and defence production—signaling a new era of strategic alignment.
Pakistani delegation received a grand welcome upon its arrival in Manama. Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Deputy PM Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, and other senior officials personally greeted the visiting leaders, reflecting the warmth Bahrain reserves for Pakistan.
