By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan and Singapore have agreed to strengthen trade, investment, technology and education cooperation as the two countries mark 60 years of diplomatic relations, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in Islamabad, Dar said the two sides had discussed ways to expand economic ties, promote business-to-business engagement and increase cooperation in digital technologies, artificial intelligence, agriculture and climate-related areas.

Balakrishnan arrived in Pakistan on Friday morning for a visit that marks the first trip by a Singaporean foreign minister to the country in more than two decades, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry.

The visit coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, established in 1966. Pakistan was among the first countries to recognise Singapore after its independence in 1965, Dar said.

A key outcome of the talks was the reopening of Pakistan’s Trade and Investment Office at its High Commission in Singapore. Dar said the move was intended to strengthen links between business communities, encourage investment and facilitate commercial exchanges.

The two foreign ministers also agreed to hold regular bilateral political consultations and promote high-level exchanges between government institutions. They discussed strengthening cooperation in education, research, innovation and human resource development, as well as expanding academic, cultural and youth exchanges.

Dar said the two sides had also discussed the possible resumption of direct flights between Pakistan and Singapore to facilitate business, tourism and people-to-people contacts.

- Cooperation on disaster management

Pakistan and Singapore exchanged a memorandum of understanding on disaster management between Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Singapore’s Civil Defence Force (SCDF).

The agreement is intended to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in disaster preparedness and response.

The ministers also discussed regional and international security developments, including the impact of regional tensions on maritime trade. Dar stressed the importance of secure sea routes and uninterrupted supply chains for global commerce and economic stability.

Both sides reaffirmed the importance of dialogue, diplomacy, international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter in addressing regional and global disputes.

- Pakistan seeks stronger engagement with ASEAN

The discussions also covered Pakistan’s relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Singapore is a member.

Dar said Pakistan attached importance to its engagement with the regional bloc and looked forward to working with Singapore as it prepares to assume the ASEAN chairmanship in 2027.

Pakistan has been an ASEAN sectoral dialogue partner since 1993 and is seeking to expand practical cooperation with the organisation and its member states.

- Palestine and Kashmir discussed

Dar said he had also shared Pakistan’s concerns over developments in the occupied Palestinian territories, including the expansion of Israeli settlements and efforts to alter the status of the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

He called for unhindered humanitarian assistance to Gaza and reiterated Pakistan’s support for an independent, sovereign and viable Palestinian state based on the pre-June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

On South Asia, Dar briefed his Singaporean counterpart on Pakistan’s position that the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute should be resolved through a just and durable settlement in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The ministers had earlier held delegation-level talks at Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, reviewing bilateral relations and discussing cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, skills development and multilateral forums.

Dar said the discussions reflected a shared commitment to expand the partnership and build on six decades of diplomatic relations.

The visit comes as Pakistan seeks to deepen economic and diplomatic engagement with Southeast Asian countries and strengthen its trade and investment links with ASEAN economies.