Qatar Signs Protocol to Invest $3 Billion in Pakistan

Pakistan and Qatar have signed a protocol committing $3 billion in investment through the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and other designated channels. The agreement was formalized at the conclusion of the Sixth Session of the Pakistan-Qatar Joint Ministerial Commission on Economic, Trade, and Technical Cooperation, held over three days in Doha. The protocol was signed by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Qatar’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani Al Thani. Both sides reaffirmed their resolve to deepen partnership across trade, investment, energy, health, transport, and culture. According to the official statement, the protocol confirms implementation of Qatar’s earlier USD 3 billion investment pledge. It establishes direct coordination between the QIA and Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to streamline investment processes and attract Qatari investors in priority sectors. In education and health, both governments agreed to accelerate agreements on technical and higher education, vocational training, and healthcare collaboration. It will also include recruitment of Pakistani medical professionals by Qatar’s Hamad Medical Corporation. In transport, both sides agreed to explore joint ventures in rail, metro, and road projects, including the Kharian–Rawalpindi Motorway (M-13) and Karachi–Hyderabad Motorway. There will also be an emphasis on green technologies such as electric and hydrogen-fuelled vehicles. They also decided to hold bilateral aeronautical consultations in early 2026 to enhance air connectivity and expand civil aviation cooperation. The two countries will also strengthen cultural and media exchanges, with plans for a ‘Year of Culture’ initiative, joint film and museum projects, and faster visa processing for academic and creative professionals. Agreements were also signed between the Qatar News Agency and Associated Press of Pakistan for news cooperation and media training. In technology, the two sides will promote collaboration in e-government, smart cities, digital economy, and startups, linking Qatar Science and Technology Park with Pakistan’s Special Technology Zones Authority. Labour cooperation was also emphasized. Pakistan and Qatar will finalize a new MoU on workforce deployment, expanding opportunities for skilled Pakistani workers and updating the 1987 employment agreement. In their concluding remarks, both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to boost trade and investment, emphasizing the importance of leveraging the partnership to generate mutual growth and sustainable development.