In a historic move, Pakistan and Bangladesh have resumed direct trade for the first time since their separation in 1971. The first government-approved cargo departed from Port Qasim, marking a significant milestone in maritime trade relations between the two nations.
The agreement was finalized in early February when Bangladesh agreed to purchase 50,000 tonnes of Pakistani rice through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP). “For the first time, a Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) vessel carrying government cargo will dock at a Bangladeshi port,” reported The Express Tribune.
*Bangladesh-Pakistan Trade*
This deal follows an improvement in diplomatic relations since an interim government in Bangladesh, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, took over after the protests that drove then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina out of office. The transportation of goods marks the first instance of official trade relations being restored since 1971. The shipment will be completed in two phases, with the remaining 25,000 tonnes to be dispatched in early March.
*Bangladesh-Pakistan Relations*
The resumption of direct trade is seen as a positive step in fostering economic cooperation and reopening trade channels that remained dormant for decades. The latest trade deal is expected to strengthen economic ties between the two nations and facilitate direct shipping routes.
After Sheikh Hasina’s ouster as the prime minister of Bangladesh last year, bilateral relations witnessed a thaw with high-level exchanges between the two countries. The interim government in Bangladesh extended an olive branch, to which Pakistan responded positively.
The renewed trade relations signal a new chapter of cooperation and economic growth for both nations, rekindling a connection that has remained dormant for over five decades.
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