Pakistan, New Zealand seek to boost cooperation in agri, education sectors

Pakistan and New Zealand discussed boosting cooperation in various fields, with a special focus on agriculture and education, as the two sides held a Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting in Wellington, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Saturday. The third Pakistan-New Zealand JTC meeting and the fifth round of Pakistan-New Zealand Political Consultations were held in Wellington on Thursday, “marking a significant step in deepening bilateral engagement between the two countries”, the FO said. A key outcome of the meetings was the signing of the Education Cooperation Arrangement between Pakistan and New Zealand, which is “expected to significantly deepen collaboration in the education sector”. At the JTC meeting, both sides “deliberated on improving market access and enhancing cooperation in sustainable agriculture, including exploring technical collaboration in wool production and plant protection”, the FO said. The discussions focused on bolstering bilateral trade and investment, with particular emphasis on technology, education and services. Institutional mechanisms to further economic cooperation were also discussed, the statement added. Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul Khawaja represented Pakistan during the JTC meeting, while Grahame Morton, deputy secretary of the Americas and Asia Group at New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, headed the other delegation.

Meanwhile, during the political consultations, both sides conducted a comprehensive review of bilateral relations. They also exchanged views on regional and international developments, and agreed to enhance coordination within multilateral forums. Additional Foreign Secretary (Asia Pacific) Ambassador Dr Syed Ali Asad Gillani co-chaired the Pakistani side at the political consultations, while Morton headed the New Zealand delegation. Islamabad and Wellington “explored avenues to strengthen cooperation across a wide spectrum of areas of mutual interest, including high-level exchanges, economic development, science and technology, education, counterterrorism, transnational crime, and people-to-people ties”, the FO said. Ambassador Gillani briefed the New Zealand side on Pakistan’s efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East, as Islamabad remains actively engaged in efforts to defuse the Strait of Hormuz stand-off. Morton “acknowledged Pakistan’s constructive role in the Middle East peace process”, the FO statement said. Gillani also discussed the situation in South Asia, including in India-occupied Kashmir (IoK) and India’s “continued violations” of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).

India had unilaterally decided to put the IWT in abeyance in late April 2025 after hostilities flared up between the two neighbours last year. The issue of water has remained a bitter point of contention between the nuclear-armed nations since then, with Islamabad repeatedly raising the issue on international platforms. The overall discussions between Pakistan and New Zealand “provided an opportunity to assess progress in bilateral ties, identify new areas for partnership, and reaffirm the shared commitment to a forward-looking and mutually beneficial relationship”, the FO noted. Pakistan and New Zealand enjoy cordial and friendly relations, with both countries being members of the Commonwealth. Bilateral trade stands at $12 million, with Pakistan’s major exports being textile products, apparel, rice, leather articles and sports goods, according to the FO’s website. Main imports from New Zealand include dairy products, wood pulp, paper, edible oil, wood, iron steel and electrical machinery.

Agriculture and education were also among areas of cooperation discussed between the two sides when former military dictator Gen Pervez Musharraf visited Auckland in June 2005. Last month, India and New Zealand signed a free trade deal as they sought to boost exports amid global economic uncertainty made worse by the war in the Middle East.