By Ayesha Saba

Pakistan and Bangladesh have agreed to establish a knowledge corridor aimed at strengthening cooperation in development planning, public policy and institutional capacity building, marking a new step in bilateral engagement between the two countries.

According to the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives' Monthly Development Update (June 2026), the initiative was agreed during a meeting between Pakistan's Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and a high-level delegation from Bangladesh led by the country's Minister for Planning. The discussions focused on expanding collaboration in development planning and sharing experiences in economic management.

The report states that both sides agreed to establish a Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor to facilitate the exchange of expertise, policy experiences and best practices in areas related to national development planning, economic management and institutional strengthening. The initiative is intended to promote closer collaboration between the planning institutions of the two countries.

According to the document, the proposed knowledge corridor will encourage cooperation in research, policy dialogue and capacity building while providing a platform for officials and experts to exchange experiences on development challenges and reform initiatives. The mechanism is expected to strengthen institutional linkages and support evidence-based policymaking in both countries.

The report notes that discussions also covered opportunities for expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and economic development. Both sides recognised the importance of strengthening people-to-people contacts and institutional partnerships to promote sustainable economic growth and regional cooperation.

According to the Ministry of Planning, enhanced collaboration in development planning will enable both countries to benefit from shared experiences in public sector reforms, project implementation and long-term strategic planning. The exchange of technical knowledge is also expected to improve institutional effectiveness and support the achievement of national development objectives.

The document highlights that the initiative reflects Pakistan's broader strategy of strengthening regional cooperation through dialogue, knowledge sharing and institutional engagement. It says closer collaboration with neighbouring countries can help foster policy innovation, strengthen development institutions and promote mutually beneficial economic partnerships.

The report further notes that the two countries expressed their commitment to maintaining regular engagement between their planning ministries and exploring new areas of cooperation in development policy, economic planning and human resource development. Such exchanges are expected to contribute to stronger institutional coordination and more effective implementation of development programmes.

According to the report, the establishment of the Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor is expected to provide a structured framework for long-term cooperation between the two countries, supporting the exchange of ideas, strengthening institutional capacity and promoting sustainable development through shared learning and collaborative policymaking.

Credit: INP-WealthPk