ISLAMABAD — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar received the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore, H.E. Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday. The high-level visit marks a significant step forward in strengthening Pakistan-Singapore relations, focusing on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, and skills development.

The bilateral discussions come as both nations prepare to celebrate the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, while aligning priorities ahead of Singapore’s upcoming 2027 ASEAN chairmanship.

Strategic Cooperation Across Trade, AI, and Disaster Management

During their formal talks, the leaders reviewed key pillars of bilateral engagement and agreed to deepen institutional linkages across multiple high-priority sectors:

• Economic & Digital Links: Expanding mutual investments, trade facilitation, IT cooperation, and vocational skills development.

• Disaster Risk Reduction: Finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on disaster management between their respective national management agencies.

• ASEAN Partnership: Discussing multilateral collaboration and enhancing Pakistan's strategic engagement with the ASEAN region.

• Technology & Innovation: Exploring joint opportunities in artificial intelligence, education, and human resource development.

High-Level Engagements and Future Outlook

During his official visit, Dr. Balakrishnan is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir. His itinerary also includes a tour of a specialized AI center in Islamabad to review local tech developments firsthand.

The visit underscores an enduring mutual respect between both countries, laying the groundwork for stronger institutional partnerships in trade, technology, and regional security.