Zubair Qureshi
Pakistan and Poland are linked in a strong bond of friendship, bilateral trade and defence cooperation and both the countries are committed to opening new avenues of mutual collaboration in the days to come.
This was stated by Minister for Defence Production Zubaida Jalal while addressing a reception organized by the embassy of Poland to celebrate the National Independence Day and the Armed Forces Day of the Republic of Poland.
The reception was attended by a good number of guests, Pakistani businessmen, senior officials of the government and the armed force, ambassadors and high commissioners, their families, members of Pakistan civil society and the parliamentarians.
Polish Ambassador Piotr Opalinski and Defence Attache, Col Bogdan Obuchowski received each guest with broad smile and open arms, typical gesture of hospitality by Poles to their guests.
One could see Polish colours dominating the reception hall. A cake was also cut on the occasion with a huge picture of the old town Warsaw in the background and national anthems of both the countries were also played on the occasion.
Zubaida Jalal while congratulating the Polish ambassador, the defence attaché and staff of the embassy said Pakistan valued its relations with Poland, an important country of the European Union.
The trade volume between Pakistan and Poland was growing gradually but steadily year by year. According to 2018 statistics, it has crossed half billion Euro, two third in the favour of Pakistani exports, good quality Pakistani textile, which has a great demand in Europe, and also leather products, surgical instruments, she said.
In his welcome address, Ambassador Piotr Opalinski expressed his gratitude to the guests for extending felicitation to the Polish nationals on their national day.
Poland has contributed significantly to Pakistan’s defecne sector and cooperation between the two countries in defence production, air force and other areas is ever-growing.
Relations between Pakistan and Poland are “excellent and very cordial,” said the ambassador adding Poland’s vast expertise and long tradition in coal mining, defence production, agriculture and food processing offered new opportunities for the mutually beneficial cooperation in these areas as well.
It may be mentioned here that Poland supported inclusion of Pakistan in the GSP Plus by the European Union (EU) to grant non-reciprocal preferential treatment to Pakistan’s exports.
The geographical location of Poland in the exact centre of Europe made it very suitable to become a hub for Pakistani products designed for the European market.
