The 13th Session of the Sri Lanka–Pakistan Joint Economic Commission (JEC) was successfully held recently in Colombo, reinforcing the strong and longstanding economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Wasantha Samarasinghe, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, while the Pakistani delegation was headed by Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan for Industries and Production. The session concluded with the signing of the Agreed Minutes by both Co-Chairs, formalising cooperation across multiple sectors.

The Pakistan High Commission in Colombo said that in the IT and digital economy, both sides agreed in principle to establish a Joint Working Group on IT and telecommunications, promote collaboration in emerging technologies, and support each other in international digital forums.

Industrial cooperation was a key focus, with discussions on expanding trade in chemicals, polymers, engineering goods, glassware, surgical instruments, and pharmaceuticals. Sri Lanka invited Pakistani pharmaceutical companies to explore investment opportunities in designated pharmaceutical zones. Both countries also agreed to strengthen collaboration in Export Processing Zones and enhance support for small and medium enterprises through their respective development agencies.

Significant progress was made in agriculture and livestock, including cooperation on meat exports, livestock farming, seed certification, sanitary and phytosanitary harmonisation, pest risk analysis, and capacity building. Procedures for the export of Sri Lankan pineapples and avocados to Pakistan were advanced. Both sides explored electronic phytosanitary certification (ePhyto), blockchain-based seed traceability systems, and increased trade in agro-commodities such as rice, sesame, and onions.

In education, the JEC emphasised academic and research cooperation, faculty and student exchanges, accreditation and quality assurance, and promoting Pakistan as a higher education destination for Sri Lankan students. A Joint Working Group on Education and Science was proposed, alongside renewal of several institutional Memoranda of Understanding.

Cooperation in science, technology, and innovation will continue under existing bilateral frameworks, with plans for joint research in advanced materials, biotechnology, climate change mitigation, and emerging technologies. Collaborative research projects, student exchanges, and co-authored publications were highlighted as key initiatives.

Health sector collaboration will focus on joint research, academic exchanges, regulatory cooperation on therapeutic goods, capacity building, fast-track registration of essential medicines, public-private partnerships, epidemiological surveillance, and coordinated responses to disease outbreaks.

Maritime cooperation was also discussed, with Pakistan offering technical expertise, training, and industrial collaboration through its shipbuilding institutions. Both sides explored enhanced maritime connectivity, including transshipment, port cooperation at Karachi and Gwadar, direct shipping routes, logistics integration, and maritime training programs.

Commerce secretary-level talks reviewed the progress of the Pakistan–Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (PSFTA), assessing current implementation and identifying measures to further enhance bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

On the sidelines, Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar Khan held discussions with Sri Lankan Cabinet members on collaboration in industry, labor and foreign employment, and health sectors.

Both delegations expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the 13th JEC and reaffirmed their commitment to regular engagement and effective implementation of agreed initiatives. It was mutually agreed that the 14th session will be held in Islamabad, with dates to be confirmed through diplomatic channels.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism yesterday said it was closely monitoring the evolving security situation in the Middle East, stressing that the safety and well-being of nearly one million Sri Lankans living and working in the region remained the government’s top priority.

In a statement issued amid heightened regional tensions, the Ministry urged Sri Lankan nationals in Middle Eastern countries to exercise heightened vigilance and strictly adhere to safety guidelines issued by local authorities.

They have been advised to follow reliable local media and official announcements of host governments, avoid non-essential travel and large public gatherings, maintain regular contact with the nearest Sri Lankan diplomatic mission, and keep mobile phones fully charged while carrying valid identification documents at all times.

The Ministry said all Sri Lankan diplomatic missions in the region have activated 24-hour emergency hotlines to assist nationals if required.

Dedicated round-the-clock contact numbers have also been established for families in Sri Lanka seeking information. They include the Consular Affairs Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (+94 74 259 5546), the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (+94 71 980 2822), and the SLBFE hotline (1989).

The Ministry said it would continue to closely monitor developments and issue further updates as necessary.

The Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday issued a travel advisory announcing the suspension of all flights bound for the Middle East due to multiple airspace closures in the region.

Airport authorities said all carriers operating to and from Middle Eastern destinations had temporarily halted services until further notice.

Passengers travelling to the Middle East including those with transit connections were urged to contact their airlines directly for the latest flight information and to check official airline websites before arriving at the airport to avoid inconvenience.

No timeline has been provided for the resumption of services.