PUBLISHED ONOctober 30, 2026 12:00 PMBYSean LerSingapore's Minister for Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan became the country's first leader to visit Pakistan in nearly 22 years as he made a one-day visit to the country on Friday (Oct 30).
Speaking at a joint press conference with his Pakistan counterpart Ishaq Dar, who is also deputy prime minister, Dr Balakrishnan noted that former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong was the last Singaporean leader to visit in 2004.
"So this is belated, but better late than never," he quipped, adding that leaders from both countries have been in constant communication.
Dr Balakrishnan noted that Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has accepted Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's invitation to visit Singapore, injecting fresh impetus to the two countries' shared priorities in economic cooperation, disaster preparedness and response, and people-to-people ties.
Elaborating on an area, which he said both sides are "working furiously to get the homework done", the Singapore minister said that greater trade and investment flows need to be facilitated amid excellent ties.
"In an increasingly uncertain global environment, including on the business side of it, it is even all the more important for our two countries to remain open, connected, and constructively engaged with each other."
This means that both governments will need to facilitate interactions between their small and medium enterprises, including the understanding of opportunities and risk in Southeast Asia and South Asia, while identifying new opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation, Dr Balakrishnan explained.
During their meeting, the two leaders also discussed carbon markets, and opportunities to deepen cooperation between institutes of higher learning in their countries, which includes the Nanyang Technological University and the National University of Singapore, with Pakistan’s National University of Sciences and Technology.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force and Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority also exchanged a memorandum of understanding to strengthen disaster preparedness and response.
"Disasters are not something you wish for, but it is something which we have to prepare for and to be acutely aware that at the rate things are going, and with the progression of climate change, this is a current and clear threat, and the more we can work together and prepare together, the more resilient we will be," Dr Balakrishnan said.
He noted that Pakistan has had extensive experience in responding to large-scale natural disasters, including floods and other extreme weather events — areas which Singapore could draw lessons of resilience from.
Under the agreement, the two countries will explore cooperation in early warning systems, sharing of best practices, strengthening search and rescue capabilities, and holding joint training and exercises.
At the joint press conference, Singapore and Pakistan also reaffirmed their commitment to international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Turning to 2027, when Singapore chairs ASEAN, Dr Balakrishnan said that the Republic will look for more opportunities for Pakistan to do more with the 11-member bloc.
"I think the horizon is very broad on that front. So, I will work closely with you in strengthening the ties between Pakistan and ASEAN, and also between the two regional blocs," he said.
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