After a 15-year hiatus, the Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) between Bangladesh and Pakistan is set to take place on Thursday at the Padma State Guest House in Dhaka.
Foreign Secretary Md Masud bin Momen will lead the Bangladesh delegation, while Pakistan will be represented by its Foreign Secretary, Amna Baloch.
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that both sides are expected to discuss all issues of mutual interest. As no specific agenda has been set in advance, the talks are likely to cover a wide range of topics relevant to both countries.
“Given the long gap since the last consultation, it's difficult to prioritise topics beforehand, but the discussion is expected to be comprehensive,” the official added.
Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Md Iqbal Hossain Khan, who is currently in Dhaka for the meeting, said Islamabad is particularly interested in enhancing trade relations with Dhaka.
He noted that Pakistan sees potential for increasing exports to Bangladesh, especially if their products remain competitively priced.
The High Commissioner further mentioned that Pakistan serves as a gateway for goods from Afghanistan and Iran, which could present import opportunities for Bangladesh due to lower transportation costs.
Regarding direct air connectivity, he said that besides Fly Jinnah, another Pakistani private airline, Air Sial — based in Sialkot — has applied to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh to operate flights to Dhaka.
“Fly Jinnah is currently awaiting final clearance to begin operations in Dhaka. Meanwhile, Air Sial is expected to launch direct flights within two months of receiving approval,” he added.
He expressed optimism that direct air connectivity would boost tourism and strengthen people-to-people contact between the two nations.
When asked about unresolved historical issues between Bangladesh and Pakistan, the High Commissioner said such matters often exist in bilateral relations, but they should not hinder current diplomatic ties or economic cooperation.
During her stay in Dhaka, Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch is scheduled to pay courtesy calls on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain.
The last FOC between Bangladesh and Pakistan was held in 2010.