Pakistan and Croatia have agreed to expand cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, information technology, labour mobility and other sectors, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Thursday after holding talks with Croatian Foreign Minister Dr Gordan Grlić Radman in Islamabad.
Addressing a joint press conference, Dar described the Croatian foreign minister's visit as an important milestone and the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral relations, noting that it was the first high-level visit from Croatia to Pakistan in many years.
He said discussions between the two delegations were positive, comprehensive and constructive, covering all aspects of bilateral relations.
Focus on trade and investment
Dar said both countries agreed to take practical steps to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, information technology, labour mobility and development.
He said Pakistan and Croatia would keep their bilateral consultation mechanism active, with the next round of consultations expected in the last quarter of 2026 or the first quarter of 2027.
Although bilateral trade has been growing steadily, Dar said it remains well below its true potential. To address this, both sides agreed to:
- Promote business-to-business (B2B) contacts
- Enhance private-sector cooperation
- Organise a joint trade and investment forum
The deputy prime minister also invited Croatian investors to take advantage of Pakistan's investment-friendly policies, highlighting the country's strategic location, improved connectivity and modern ports, including Karachi Port.
Croatia sees broad opportunities
Croatian Foreign Minister Dr Gordan Grlić Radman said it was an honour to visit Pakistan and expressed confidence that the trip would further strengthen ties between the two countries.
He noted that several Croatian companies are already operating in Pakistan, particularly in hydropower and the energy sector, supplying equipment and modern technology.
He said both countries could expand cooperation in pharmaceuticals, healthcare, information technology, maritime affairs, tourism and investment.
Describing Croatia as a gateway to European markets, he said Pakistani businesses could use Croatia to access Central and Southern Europe.
Joint declaration signed
The Croatian foreign minister said both countries had agreed on a joint declaration to deepen bilateral cooperation, increase trade and investment, strengthen institutional contacts and promote partnerships in key sectors, including:
- Energy
- Transport
- Digital connectivity
- Investment
He also highlighted Croatia's expertise in mine clearance, civil protection, disaster management, emergency relief and firefighting, saying these were areas where cooperation with Pakistan could be expanded.
