LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif met Azerbaijan’s Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov and discussed expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, urban development, agriculture, logistics, tourism and infrastructure.
During the meeting, both sides formally decided to establish a joint working group to facilitate economic cooperation and investment. Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb was appointed head of the joint working group on behalf of the Punjab government. The two sides agreed to further strengthen bilateral economic cooperation, investment linkages and institutional partnerships between Punjab and Azerbaijan. Discussions were also held on the prospects of a Preferential Trade Arrangement (PTA) between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.
CM Maryam Nawaz reaffirmed the commitment to further strengthen the longstanding friendly relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan. Both leaders agreed to expand organised economic engagement, particularly in trade, investment, urban development, agriculture, logistics, tourism and infrastructure.
The meeting decided that the joint working group would include relevant government departments and technical experts from both sides. The group will identify priority sectors for cooperation and joint ventures, organise opportunities for public-private partnerships (PPP), and facilitate investor coordination and project development.
Frameworks for sectoral cooperation in infrastructure, housing, agriculture, tourism and energy will also be proposed. Mechanisms for regulatory facilitation and ease of doing business will be developed, while the working group is expected to present actionable proposals within the next few months to transform political goodwill into tangible economic outcomes.
During the meeting, both sides also discussed the possibility of a Preferential Trade Arrangement aimed at improving market access, reducing trade barriers and increasing bilateral trade volume.
CM Maryam Nawaz invited the Azerbaijani economy minister to visit Pakistan. Both leaders expressed resolve to deepen institutional linkages and maintain close coordination through the newly established working group. The chief minister highlighted Punjab’s ongoing economic transformation agenda, including reforms in land-use policy, development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), and the upcoming Punjab Economic Transformation Plan. Punjab’s economic plan focuses on industrial modernisation, exports and value addition. Discussions were also held on investment opportunities for Azerbaijani investors in smart cities, real estate, hospitality, agri-value chains, logistics and IT infrastructure. Both sides agreed to accelerate follow-up engagements to transform discussions into investment-ready projects and reaffirmed their joint commitment to developing a long-term and structured framework for Pakistan-Azerbaijan economic partnership.
