Bilateral Relations

Political Relations

Pakistan enjoys close and cordial relations with Norway. Norway recognized Pakistan as a sovereign state in 1947, shortly after its foundation.

There exists an established mechanism of Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) between the Foreign Ministries of the Pakistan and Norway at the level of Additional Foreign-Secretary. From 2024 onwards, it has been mutually decided to hold BPC on annual basis, alternating the hosting capital. Last (12^th) Round of Pakistan-Norway Bilateral Political Consultations was held in Islamabad on 4 October 2023. The date for BPC 2024 is tentatively planned to be held in 2^nd half of the year.

Pakistan enjoys cordial relations with Norway. The two countries share common perceptions on a number of international issues. Efforts are being made to forge closer cooperation in the fields of climate and environment, hydropower and renewable energy, education and research, IT, tourism and people-to-people contact. Pakistan has a meaningful relationship with Norway in development cooperation, mainly focused in the fields of poverty reduction, education, social development and environment.

High level meetings and visits

• Former MOS Hina Rabbani Khar visited Norway in June 2023
• Mr. Qamar Zaman Kaira, Adviser to PM on Kashmir Affairs and GB visited Norway in June 2023
• Former State Secretary (equivalent to our MOS) Mr. Erling Rimestad visited Pakistan in February 2023
• Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal visited Norway in February 2018
• SAPM to PM on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi visited Norway as special Envoy of PM in October 2016.
• Minister of Commerce, Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan visited Norway in October 2016
• Norwegian FM Børge Brende visited Pakistan in September 2016
• Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif visited Norway in July 2015
• Norwegian FM Børge Brende visited Pakistan in February 2015
• President Pervez Musharraf visited Norway in January 2006
• Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg visited Pakistan in December 2005

Agreements/MoUs

1. MoU on Child Labour signed in 1977.
2. MoU on Convention on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Tax Evasion signed in 1998.
3. MoU on Exchange of Information in regard to Citizenship Checks to Combat Illegal Immigration and People Smuggling signed in January 2001.
4. MoU on Cultural Cooperation in October 1997.
5. Agreement on the Establishment of Norwegian-Pakistani Advisory Board on Matters relating to Marriages, Family and Children arising out of Migration signed in 2005.
6. Declaration of Intent on a Debt-for-Development Swap, for US$20 million, in cooperation with the Asian Development Bank signed in January 2006.
7. Declaration on Intent on Cooperation in the Fisheries Sector signed in January 2006.
8. MoU between High Education Commission (HEC) and the Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Higher Education (SIU) signed in January 2006.
9. Air Services Agreement signed in January 2014.
10. Readmission Agreement signed in January 2017.
11. Visa Abolition Agreement for holders of diplomatic and official passport can travel and stay for the period of upto 90 days. 

Economic And Trade Relations

Norway follows the GSP system as classified by the OECD and therefore, accords Pakistan GSP status, meaning that Pakistani goods benefit from a 10-100 percent tariff reduction when imported into Norway.

Norway is a member of European Free Trade Association (EFTA) along with Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Pakistan and EFTA states signed a Joint Declaration on Cooperation (JDC) on 12 November 2012 to promote economic cooperation. Pakistan is presently working on a feasibility exercise, which would become a basis for the next steps for signing of a Free Trade Agreement with EFTA.

The volume of bilateral trade in the fiscal year 2022-2023 was US$ 198 million. Pakistan exports to Norway amounted to US$ 134 million, whereas imports from Norway amounted to US$ 64 million. Pakistan’s major exports to Norway included household linen, clothings, apparel, sportswear, rice, fruits, sports equipment etc. Pakistan’s imports from Norway included scrap, fish products, Nickle, wood pulp, polymers etc.)

Norway’s small market size and high tariff rates are among the impediments to the growth of bilateral trade.

Investment

Till 2023, Norway has been the most significant source of FDI into Pakistan from Western Europe. Given under are the details of some of the Norwegian companies with businesses in Pakistan:

For Pakistan, huge potential has emerged for investments from Norway in the fields of renewable energy, mining & minerals, oil & gas off-shore drilling, IT and ITeS, Ship-Breaking and ship-recycling.

To leverage the potential in IT field, the Pakistani IT companies are increasingly participating in various innovation events being held in Norway for past few years so as to increase their visibility and project Pakistan’s IT strength to the Nordic market. Pakistan’s IT Industry Association P@SHA shared that their visit to Oslo Innovation Week in September 2023 had already resulted into initiation of some successful business negotiations.

Diaspora

Pakistani diaspora, about 50,000 act as strong resource link between the two countries. The first Pakistani migrant workers arrived in Norway around 1970. The Pakistani diaspora, has grown today as a diverse multi-generation group contributing to all walks of life including politics, liberal arts, business, education, science, research, medicine, healthcare, law, consultancy and engineering. Pakistan, being the country of origin, takes pride in socioeconomic contributions of these Norwegians in the country of their choice.

According to a recently released data analysis of immigrant population in Norway, the Pakistani diaspora dominates the “leadership roles” as compared to other immigrant communities in Norway. As already mentioned above, currently, four members of Norwegian National Parliament are of Pakistani origin, one of whom was chosen to hold the portfolio of Minister for Culture & Equality. Recently another politician of Pakistani origin has been appointed as State Secretary/Deputy Minister for Health. A large number of Pakistani origin politicians are also serving in various municipalities and city governments in Norway.

Oslo City Council hosted a colourful event in October 2021 at Oslo City Hall (Nobel awards venue) to mark over 50 years of arrival of Pakistanis in Norway. HM King Harald V, Lord Mayor of Oslo Marianne Borgen, Chief Minister Raymond Johansen and a large number of Pakistani community members attended the event. In their remarks, the Norwegian dignitaries highly lauded the eminence of Pakistanis in social, economic and political mosaic of Norway.

After the finalization of dual nationality arrangement in February 2021, the diaspora have been given the facility to avail the dual nationality. The community appreciated Embassy’s continuous efforts to facilitate Norwegian nationals of Pakistan-origin wanting to reclaim their Pakistani nationality under an interim arrangement approved by the competent authority/Secretary Interior in April 2022.