Overview
- Delegations led by Haroon Akhtar Khan and Wasantha Samarasinghe concluded the 13th Joint Economic Commission session in Colombo with signed Agreed Minutes.
- In the digital economy, both sides agreed in principle to create a joint working group on IT and telecommunications with collaboration in emerging technologies and support in international forums.
- Agriculture talks advanced sanitary and phytosanitary alignment, with reported progress on procedures to enable Sri Lankan pineapple and avocado exports to Pakistan, alongside work on meat, seed, and pest risk analysis.
- Industrial discussions covered expanded trade in chemicals, polymers, engineering goods, glassware, surgical instruments, and pharmaceuticals, with Sri Lanka inviting Pakistani pharma investment in designated zones.
- Further cooperation will focus on SME development and export processing zones, maritime links through Karachi and Gwadar with training and shipbuilding support, and coordinated health-sector research and regulation.