Mon Feb 24 05:45:26 UTC 2025: **Pakistan and Bangladesh Resume Direct Trade After 54 Years**
**Islamabad/Dhaka, February 24, 2025** – For the first time since the 1971 separation, Pakistan and Bangladesh have resumed direct trade. A Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) vessel carrying 25,000 tonnes of rice, the first shipment under a new agreement, has departed from Port Qasim for a Bangladeshi port. This marks a significant milestone in restoring maritime trade relations between the two nations.
The agreement, finalized in early February, involves Bangladesh purchasing a total of 50,000 tonnes of Pakistani rice through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP). The remaining 25,000 tonnes are scheduled for shipment in early March. The development is viewed as a positive step towards stronger economic cooperation and the reopening of trade routes that had been dormant for over five decades.
The resumption of trade follows a thaw in bilateral relations after the change in leadership in Bangladesh last year. The interim government’s outreach to Pakistan has been met with a positive response, leading to high-level exchanges and the recent trade deal. This renewed cooperation is expected to strengthen economic ties and facilitate the establishment of direct shipping routes between the two countries.
First Piper 