The Philippines and Pakistan have had a long history of cordial relations. In 1954, the two countries became alliance partners in the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (disbanded in 1977).

The early decades of bilateral relations were characterized by several high level visits on both sides. In May 1957, Pakistan Prime Minister Husseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy made an official visit to the Philippines . This was reciprocated by President Diosdado Macapagal in July of 1962.

During the administration of former President Corazon Aquino, Pakistani Prime Minister Mohammad Khan Junejo made an official visit to the Philippines . The visit was marked by discussions towards pursuing more vigorous trade relations.In 1989, President Aquino, on two occasions, held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, now an opposition leader in Pakistan . Issues of mutual interest, particularly on the improvement of trade and technical cooperation, were discussed. President Aquino then extended an invitation to the prime minister to visit the Philippines .

Prime Minister Bhutto visited the Philippines in 1995 as a guest of former President Fidel Ramos. In 1997, the gesture was returned by President Fidel V. Ramos, only the second Philippine head of state to visit Pakistan almost forty years after the first state visit of President Macapagal. In June 2004, then Secretary Delia Domingo Albert visited Pakistan and called on Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri, President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mr. Zafarullah Khan Jamali to campaign for the Philippine bid for Observer Status in the Organization of Islamic Conference and revitalize bilateral cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the field of counter-terrorism.

On 8 March 1997, an agreement was signed creating a forum for policy consultations at the level of senior officials. The first meeting was held in Islamabad on 26-27 June 2001. The second round of consultations held in Manila on 1 April 2004 focused on counter-terrorism cooperation, the Philippines ' bid to become an Observer State in the OIC, and Pakistan 's applications for ARF membership. President Pervez Musharraf made a state visit to the Philippines . A third round is scheduled for October 2006. President Pervez Musharraf was in Manila on a State Visit 18-20 April 2005 at the invitation of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, The visit revitalized political and security relations as well as economic relations. The two countries reaffirmed their common commitment to combat terrorism. The Philippines spoke of its inter-faith dialogue initiatives and Pakistan espoused its concept of enlightened moderation.During the visit, the following agreements were signed: A Memorandum of Understanding on Combating Terrorism and Certain Other Crimes, An Agreement on the Abolition of Visa Requirements for Diplomatic Passport Holders and the Facilitation of the Issuance of Entry Visas for Holders of Official Passports, and a Program of Cultural Exchanges for the Years 20005-2009. A Memorandum of Agreement was also signed between the Philippine International Trading Corporation and United Marketing ( Pakistan ) for the supply of pharmaceuticals from Pakistan to support the low-cost medicines program of the Philippine Government. President Musharraf addressed a joint session of the Congress of the Philippines , a privilege rarely given to state visitors.

The Philipines sees Pakistan 's growing involvement with ASEAN as a contribution to the overall economic, political, and social stability of the Asia Pacific region. It supported the latter's membership in the ASEAN Regional Forum. The two countries have supported each other's positions in the North-South and South-South fora, the Group of 77, and the Non-Aligned Movement.