Pakistan and Egypt have agreed to facilitate private-sector partnerships and expand commercial linkages to promote business and economic cooperation.

An understanding was reached during the two-day official visit of Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Ahmed Mohamed Abdelatty to Pakistan that concluded on Sunday.

During the visit, Dr Badr Abdelatty held a tête-à-tête meeting followed by delegation-level talks with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad.

The two sides reviewed full spectrum of Pakistan-Egypt bilateral relations including political, economic, trade and defence relations; cultural and educational cooperation. Collaboration in the health sector, including Egypt's support to Pakistan's national Hepatitis C elimination efforts, was also reviewed.

The two sides decided to identify 250 Pakistani business houses in first phase, which would be enhanced to 500 in second phase for visa facilitation. They also decided to establish Pakistan-Egypt Business Council to institutionalize private-sector cooperation and promote mutually beneficial commercial partnerships.

The two sides also decided to establish the Pakistan-Egypt Business Forum to advance economic collaboration. It will convene in the second quarter of 2026, on the sidelines of the meeting of bilateral Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC). The JMC would be co-chaired by the two Foreign Ministers. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to activate bilateral institutional mechanisms and to hold senior official level meeting in the first quarter of 2026.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister also announced the decision to double the number of scholarships offered by Al-Azhar University for Pakistani students.

Ishaq Dar and the Egyptian Foreign Minister also exchanged views on regional and international developments. Pakistan appreciated Egypt's pivotal diplomatic and humanitarian role in Gaza, including its efforts toward ceasefire arrangements and facilitation of humanitarian assistance.

The two sides reiterated their principled support for the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and contiguous State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.