ZUBAIR QURESHI
President DrArifAlvi has underscored the need for increasing cooperation with Egypt, Oman, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Sri Lanka and Cyprus in trade, economy, and culture.
The president expressed these views while talking to the ambassadors-designate/High Commissioner of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Sultanate of Oman, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Republic of Cyprus and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, here on Tuesday.
The envoys presented their diplomatic credentials to the president and separately called on him, at Aiwan-e-Sadr (President House).
While welcoming the ambassador-designate of Egypt to Pakistan, DrIhab Mohamed Abdelhamid Hassan, the president highlighted the importance Pakistan attached to its bilateral relations with Egypt reflected by shared bonds of common faith, cultural affinities and values between the people of the two brotherly countries. He emphasized the need for increasing the trade, economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
The president expressed Pakistan’s deep concern over the killing of innocent people and the tremendous damage done to the public property in Gaza by the Israeli security forces. Dr. Ihab Mohamed Abdelhamid Hassan informed that Egypt was supporting the humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Talking to the ambassador-designate of Sultanate of Oman, Mr. FahadSulaimanKhalaf al Kharusi, the president said Pakistan and Oman enjoyed excellent relations in various fields. He informed the ambassador that Pakistan offered investment-friendly-environment to the foreign investors and had constituted, in this regard, Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) that provided one window operation for investment in IT, corporate farming, minerals and energy sector of Pakistan. The president also highlighted the atrocities being committed by India in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJ&K). The ambassador conveyed His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik’s best wishes for the people and government of Pakistan.
He also welcomed the ambassador-designate of Bosnia & Herzegovina, EminCohodarevic to Pakistan saying there existed a strong bond of friendship between the two countries based on brotherhood and mutual trust.
While speaking to the High Commissioner-designate of Sri Lanka, Admiral (R) RavindraChandrasiriWijegunaratne, the President said that relations between Sri Lanka and Pakistan had grown from strength to strength over the last seven decades.
