The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) and the Directorate General of Food, Bangladesh, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on February 14 to facilitate rice exports from Pakistan to Bangladesh. Syed Rafeo Bashir Shah, Chairman of TCP, and Mr Md. Abdul Khaleque, Director General of the Directorate General of Food, Bangladesh, signed the MoU.

Key figures attended the signing ceremony, including Syed Ahmed Maroof, the High Commissioner for Pakistan; Mr. Shakeel Ahmed Mangnejo, Special Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Pakistan; and Mr. Md. Masudul Hasan, Secretary of the Ministry of Food, Bangladesh. They congratulated both delegations on this significant step toward strengthening trade and economic relations between the two countries.

Following the MoU signing, the High Commissioner met with Mr. Ali Imam Majumder, the Honorable Adviser for Food, to discuss bilateral trade relations. During this meeting, the High Commissioner presented the Adviser with a rice gift on behalf of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan.

Additionally, a Pakistani flag carrier, the Sibi, operated by the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC), has already arrived at Port Qasim to load rice for export. This development comes as Pakistan and Bangladesh have decided to launch passenger and cargo shipping services between the two countries, as announced by the state-owned shipping company earlier this week.