MPs call for exchange of Pakistan, Morocco parliamentary visits, expertise
Moroccan Ambassador Mohammad Karmoune hosted a reception at his residence in honor of the members of the Pakistan-Morocco Parliamentary Friendship Group.
A large number of parliamentarians also attended the event.
The participants included Additional Foreign Secretary for Africa Hamid Asghar Khan, former Prime Minister and Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf, Deputy Speaker National Assembly Ghulam Mustafa Shah, Tariq FazalChaudhry, Barrister DaniyalChaudhry, MirzaIkhtiarBaig, Muhammad HanifAbbasi, Bilal AzharKayani, Syed NaveedQamar, SardarNabeel Ahmed Gabol, Senator Sahar Kamran, Shaista Pervez Malik, NuzatSadiq, Syed Khursheed Shah, Barrister Aqeel Malik, Zahra WadoodFatemi, SharmilaFarooqui, SabeenGouri, ShaguftaJumani, Muhammad Khan JamaliWahaj Bin Tahir, RabiaBasri, MirzaIshtiaqBaig, MianAkramFarid and renowned businessman ShahbazZaheer.
Speaking on the occasion, the Moroccan Ambassador, said it was important for the parliaments of both the countries to start a bilateral cooperation programme that includes exchange of visits, exchange of experiences on legislative issues and exchange of documents, exchange of expertise.
This exercise is associated with an aim to contributing to the consolidation of the rule of law.
At the multilateral level, our legislative institutions need to harmonize their positions, he said, adding particularly there should be close cooperation on such factors that affected food, environment, and security.
Speaking on this occasion, IkhtiarBaig, Convener of the Pak-Morocco Parliamentary Friendship Group, said he like many of his colleagues considered Morocco as second home. “I do my business in Morocco and have spent twenty years of my life there,” he said cherishing the sweet memories of those days. .
IkhtiarBaig said it was an honour to represent the Pak-Morocco PFG. The soil of Morocco was rich and produced great leaders, he said referring to great Muslim general Tariq bin Ziyad and prolific traveller Ibn Battuta.
Morocco is also the gateway to Africa and the Spanish coast was just a few kilometers away from Morocco. Tangier, the largest port in Africa and the Mediterranean, and Africa’s new high-speed train ‘El Buraq’, with a speed of 350 km/h, faster and more comfortable than the Bullet Train and Eurostar, are all testaments to the dynamic and capable leadership of King Mohammed VI.
FIFA World Cup 2030 is going to be held in Morocco and other countries which again seals importance of this great country, he said adding Morocco had become the most popular tourist destination and more than 16 million tourists visited Morocco last year.
The volume of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Morocco has increased to $800 million and has the potential to increase this trade to $1 billion in the coming years. It is important to recognize the importance of our bilateral relations, said Mr Baig.
We are planning to visit Morocco in April 2025 and currently in the process of finalizing the agenda with our counterpart, he said adding the Pakistan-Morocco Parliamentary Friendship Group would continue to play an important role in enhancing communication and promoting deeper bilateral relations.
