Pakistan seeks early signing of GCC free trade agreement, Qatari investment

Pakistan asked Qatar to back an early signing of the Pakistan-GCC free trade agreement and encourage investment in Pakistan, following talks in Doha on October 24. Profit by Pakistan Today, citing the Ministry of Commerce, reported that the two countries discussed wider access for Pakistani exports and Qatari investment in agriculture, industry, information technology and infrastructure.

Pakistan said it had completed domestic approval of the agreement and sent its approved text to the GCC Secretariat on December 31, 2025, but the pact remains unsigned. Officials also raised removing restrictions on Pakistani bone-in meat exports and outlined potential projects including rice supplies, grain storage, electric-vehicle manufacturing, shipping and the proposed Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway. A possible investment fund was discussed without a final decision, while 11 technical working groups are expected to identify opportunities before the next task force meeting.