Jakarta, Jan. 11 -- Indonesia and Pakistan are seeking to broaden economic and social cooperation, with Jakarta pushing to upgrade an existing trade pact into a more comprehensive agreement aimed at boosting investment, empowering women and strengthening resilience to climate change.

Indonesian Deputy Minister of Trade Dyah Roro Esti met Pakistan's First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari in Karachi on Saturday to discuss expanding bilateral ties and identifying new areas for collaboration between the two countries.

In a statement issued Sunday, Esti said Indonesia hopes to elevate the Indonesia-Pakistan Preferential Trade Agreement into a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement by 2027 to provide a stronger framework for long-term coopera...