{
  "id": 12847177,
  "title": "Bahrain working to 'speed up' approval of Pak-GCC free trade pact, foreign minister says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/bahrain-working-to-speed-up-approval-of-pak-gcc-free-trade-pact",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T10:39:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2035648/bahrain-working-to-speed-up-approval-of-pak-gcc-free-trade-pact-foreign-minister-says"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani said his country is working to expedite the approval of a free trade agreement between Pakistan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The minister co-chaired the third session of the Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in Islamabad along with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. The JMC discussed over 15 areas of cooperation, including establishing a joint working group on trade and investment, convening a group on energy next month, and finalizing the GCC-Pakistan free trade agreement. Bahrain's FM praised the \"healthy and strong\" bilateral relationship between the two nations, noting their consistency and growth. He also expressed appreciation for Pakistan's principled positions on international crises and condemned recent terrorist attacks on Saudi Arabian airports. The two ministers discussed the crises in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab, emphasizing the importance of freedom of navigation and respect for international law. Bahrain and Pakistan will mark 55 years of diplomatic relations on October 14.",
  "summary": "Bahrain on Thursday said it was working to “speed up” the approval of a free trade agreement between Pakistan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The remarks came after the two countries held the third session of their Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in Islamabad. Bahrain’s FM Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani — who arrived in Pakistan last night on a two-day visit — co-chaired the JMC…",
  "key_points": [
    "Bahrain speeding up Pakistan-GCC free trade pact approval",
    "JMC co-chaired by Bahrain's FM and Pakistan's Deputy PM",
    "55 years of diplomatic relations marked on October 14"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn Business",
        "title": "Pakistan, Bahrain aim to boost bilateral trade as Dar, visiting FM chair JMC meeting",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/pakistan-bahrain-aim-to-boost-bilateral-trade-as-dar-visiting-fm",
        "published": "2026-10-08T07:53:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "Pakistan, Bahrain set $1bn bilateral trade target",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/pakistan-bahrain-set-1bn-bilateral-trade-target",
        "published": "2026-10-08T11:09:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Pakistan, Bahrain agree to operationalise joint working groups, expand trade ties",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/pakistan-bahrain-agree-to-operationalise-joint-working-groups-expand",
        "published": "2026-10-08T13:13:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}