Brunei Darussalam is a small but important and oil rich Islamic country in Southeast Asia. Pakistan established diplomatic relations with Brunei on 9 February 1984 soon after the latter’s independence. Brunei established its High Commission in Islamabad in 1992, while Pakistan set up its High Commission in Bandar Seri Begawan in 1985. Pakistan’s relations with Brunei are marked by cordiality, warmth and cooperation. The two countries have similarity of views on important regional and international issues. The year 2024 marks the 40^th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

High-Level Visits

2. An important aspect of these relations has been regular contacts at the highest level. The following high-level visits have taken place since the establishment of diplomatic relations:

• Former President General Zia-ul-Haq visited Brunei in February 1984 to participate in the independence celebrations of the country.
• Former Prime Minister Ms. Benazir Bhutto visited Brunei in 1996
• Former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif visited Brunei in May 1999.
• In March 2000, the then Chief Executive, General Pervez Musharraf visited Brunei.
• Former Prime Minister Mr. Shaukat Aziz visited Brunei in 2005.

3. From Brunei side, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah visited Pakistan in 1992 and 2004.

Military Leadership Visits

Military leadership had undertaken following visits:

• Former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Khalid Shameem Wynne visited Brunei from 23-26 October 2011.
• Admiral Muhammad Asif Sandila NI (M), former Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan, visited Brunei Darussalam from 22-25 March 2013.
• In 2017 General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of Pakistan visited the Sultanate of Brunei from 8-10 April 2017.
• Secretary Defence of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Lieutenant General (Rtd) Zamir-Ul-Hassan Shah and his delegation visited Brunei Darussalam for the 5th Joint Defence Working Committee (JDWC) between both countries from 8-10 August 2017.
• Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of Pakistan Army General Qamar Javed Bajwa, NI(M), visited Brunei Darussalam from 25-27 March 2018.

4. From Bruneian side, the former Commander Royal Brunei Navy, First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Abdul Halim bin Haji Mohd Hanifah visited Pakistan in October 2012. He was conferred with Hilal-i-Imtiaz-Military on 18 October 2012 in recognition of his services for his prominent role in expanding mutual cooperation and strengthening the bonds of friendship between the two nations.
5. Recently, Brigadier General (Retired) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Alirupendi bin Haji Perudin, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence of Brunei Darussalam led the Bruneian delegation in the 6^th session of JDWC held in Pakistan from 23-26 October 2023.

Institutional Mechanisms

6. Pakistan and Brunei have various institutional mechanisms to strengthen the bilateral relations.

Bilateral Consultation and Cooperation (BCC)

7. Pakistan and Brunei had signed the MoU on bilateral consultation and cooperation on 19 May 2004. However, the inaugural session could not be held until recently. As a result of Mission’s concerted efforts coupled with support by Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan and Brunei, the inaugural session was held in virtual mode on 20 December 2023. Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi, Foreign Secretary led Pakistani side while Bruneian side was headed by Pengiran Norhashimah Binti Pg Mohd Hassan, Permanent Secretary (Politics and Intl. Org). The long overdue inaugural session provided an excellent opportunity to review the entire gamut of bilateral relations and explore new avenues to further enhance bilateral cooperation. The two sides reaffirmed the commitment to remain constructively and meaningfully engaged to further reinforce Pakistan Brunei bilateral relations.

Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation

8. Pakistan and Brunei signed the Joint Commission for Bilateral cooperation on 05 March 1996 in order to institutionalize bilateral economic and trade relations. Inaugural session of the Joint Commission was held on 4-5 October 2000 at Islamabad. The last (2^nd) meeting of the Commission was held in Brunei on 16-17 March 2006. The meeting agreed to expand economic and trade cooperation in various sectors. The two countries also agreed to facilitate exchange of business delegations and services between the two countries. The meeting provided technical framework for bilateral cooperation in the fields of science and technology, defence, petroleum and natural resources, health, and cultural cooperation. The 3^rd session is pending since 2017. High Commission is making efforts to revive this important forum.

Bilateral Trade and Investment

The bilateral trade between Pakistan and Brunei is well below the existing potential. On average, during the last 10 years, Pakistan’s annual exports to Brunei have been worth US$ 2.32 million and annual imports from Brunei have been to the tune of US$ 3.79 million. Most of the present trade is carried out by small businessmen and traders through Singapore, Dubai and Pakistan. This includes very limited quantity of rice, textile and related material and spices etc. While Pakistan’s imports include limited quantity of organic chemicals, plastic articles etc.

Pak-Brunei Investment Company, established in March 2006 is the most important success story of joint venture for investment and is doing business in financial sector.

Defence Cooperation

9. The Pakistan- Brunei Joint Working Committee on Defence Cooperation (JDWC), which is the institutionalized mechanism for the bilateral defence relations, was established on 19 May 2004. The Committee has so far held six meetings. The 6^th Round of JDWC was recently held from 23-26 October 2023 in Pakistan.
10. In addition to the JDWC, regular goodwill visits of our naval ships to Brunei provide impetus to the bilateral interactions. Pakistan Navy Ships Shamsheer and NASR visited Muara Port, Brunei Darussalam from 11-15 October 2022.
11. Pakistan Brunei defence relations have also been pursued through Pakistan’s regular participation in the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Command and Staff Courses. Its 14^th Course is currently underway in which one officer from Pakistan Army is participating. Bruneian officers and men are also attending various courses in Pakistan and are likely to resume attendance of National Security War Course (NSWC) at National Defence University (NDU) Islamabad in August 2024.
12. As per secondment of military doctors from Pakistan, five doctors, including two lady doctors, are currently serving with the Brunei Armed Forces.

Pakistani Community

13. There is a small Pakistani community of more than 1000 in Brunei. On professional basis, it can be divided into three categories, including teachers, doctors and traders. Majority of doctors are employed in public sector of Brunei. The traders deal with textiles, carpets, restaurants and repair of motor vehicles. Majority of textile traders’ hail from Distt. Buner, as well as other areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwah. Professionals hail from all parts of Pakistan. All Pakistanis in this country are law abiding and well-respected. Analogous to kafeel system in the Gulf countries, most Pakistanis are under sponsorship of locals. Presently, the Brunei Pakistan Friendship Association has members from both Pakistan and Brunei and they actively participate in all social and cultural events of the High Commission.