ISLAMABAD, OCT 25 /DNA/ – The Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-Water), which is a Korean governmental agency working on comprehensive water resource development has donated one hundred thousand dollars to the Government of Pakistan to support the ongoing Flood Relief Efforts that have claimed more than 1700 lives across the country, making the total contribution of Korea’s private sector 800,000 USD.

A handing over ceremony for this donation was held yesterday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) with the participation of the Ambassador the Republic of Korea, Suh Sangpyo, the Representative/Chief Executive Officer of Star Hydro K-Water Pakistan, Mr. Bong Rok Oh, the Director General (EAP) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Aamer Ahmed Atozai, and senior officials of the concerned authorities.

Speaking at the occasion, the Ambassador stated that the Government, companies, and the People of Korea have always stood by the People of Pakistan. He added that the donations from the Korean government have exceeded two million dollars and the donations from Private Sector and NGOs were also exceeding eight hundred thousand dollars, bringing the total contributions by Korea to over 2.8 million dollars at present.

The DG (EAP) Mr. Aamer Ahmed Atozai expressed his gratitude to the Ambassador and the Representative of K-Water for the generous donation and that this donation will bring much needed relief to the flood affectees.

ISLAMABAD, OCT 25 /DNA/ – The embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan here on Tuesday organized a diplomatic reception to celebrate the “Republic Day of Kazakhstan.”

In his welcoming speech, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Pakistan, Yerzhan Kistafin, highlighted the importance of the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The ambassador also spoke about the history of the Republic Day of Kazakhstan and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, K. Tokayev’s initiatives.

At the ceremony, Chief guest, Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik, said Pakistan and Kazakhstan enjoyed brotherly relations.

There were tremendous opportunities that stand untapped, he said, adding both countries were working to enhance trade volume and people-to-people exchanges.

He also emphasized the importance of relations between Kazakhstan and Pakistan and the need for further progressive development.

The minister highlighted the importance of inter-regional transit and transport infrastructure development, the need for diversification, and the expansion of Kazakhstan-Pakistan trade and economic ties.=DNA

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Islamabad, OCT 25 /DNA/ – Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal to Pakistan Tapas Adhikari visited the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry FPCCI, Capital Office, Islamabad, and interacted with President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh, Vice President Umar Masood Ur Rehman and others members of the FPCCI.

They had a detailed discussion on trade and economic ties between Pakistan and Nepal. During the interactions, the ambassador highlighted the need to improve bilateral economic relations between Nepal and Pakistan since both countries have great potential to cooperate.

He further said that the bilateral relations between our countries have always been excellent. Both Nepal and Pakistan are members of SAARC and have similar cultural and social backgrounds.

Presidnet Hunza Chamber of Commerce & Industry Mr. Raziq Khan, President Rahim Yaar Khan Chamber of Commerce & Industry Mr. Shokat Hayat and other were also present on this occasion.

Tapas Adhikari said that “Pakistan is one of the most important countries for Nepal to promote regional trade, especially in the perspective of the SAARC regime but the logistics issues, lack of communication, and proper marketing were some hurdles in giving a boost to the bilateral trade,”  stressed the need for exchanging business delegations to enhance trade and promotion of investment opportunities between the two sides.

The Ambassador of Nepal to Pakistan shed light on Nepal’s provisions and policies relating to industry, trade, tourism, and investment and thanked the FPCCI for its willingness to increase engagement with Nepal. He expressed commitment to facilitating Pakistani business communities for increasing business relations with Nepal. 

HE the Ambassador called upon the business communities as well as people of all walks of life to visit Nepal and in Inviting the business communities to invest in Nepal the Ambassador underscored major facilities according to the investors in Nepal.

Talking to the Ambassador of Nepal, President FPCCI Irfan Iqbal Sheikh & Vice President Umar Masood Ur Rehman said that Pakistan and Nepal are members of SAARC and enjoys friendly relations since the 1960s. “We keep emphasizing a well-devised strategy for ensuring regional peace through maintaining trade and economic relations among SAARC countries.

 Nepal, being a land-locked country between China and India, can understand the importance of regional trade better than others,” the FPCCI President added. They said that Nepal is an import-oriented economy whose imports are far greater than exports. In the year 2021, Pakistan exports to Nepal were US$ 4.7 million while the imports from Nepal were US $ 2.6 million.

The President & Vice President of FPCCI further said that despite huge trade potential, the trade volume between the two countries is very low which is just US $ 7.3 million. He said the connection and connectivity problem is one of the basic hurdles in trade promotion.

They discussed various opportunities of joint ventures and said agriculture and tourism are the key sectors where both countries could collaborate with each other.

They said that Pakistani products, particularly rice, leather and leather goods, carpets, pharmaceuticals, textiles, pashmina lawn, textile made-ups and allied products have great potential in Nepal which needs to be marketed properly. They said a number of Pakistani investors are interested to enter into joint ventures with Nepalese investors. DNA

Islamabad, OCT 25 /DNA/ – Turkiye wants to increase bilateral trade with Pakistan to at least US$ 5 billion in the next 2-3 years as both countries have good potential to further enhance two-way trade volume in many items. This was said by Mehmet Pacaci, Ambassador of Turkiye while talking to a delegation of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry that called on him in his office led by Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari President. Nurettin Demir, Commercial Counsellor of Turkiye Embassy was also present at the occasion.

The envoy appreciated the initiative of ICCI for organizing an International Housing Expo in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing & Works and assured that Turkish companies in Pakistan shall participate in the Expo whereas the companies and dignitaries from Turkiye would also be encouraged to join the Expo. Talking about trade through roads and railways, he said that Pakistan should upgrade its railways system to make it compatible with the railways system of Turkiye in order to promote bilateral trade through railways cargo. He said that trade through the road network can be cheaper due to low oil prices in Iran. He proposed to form a Committee comprising representatives of all stakeholders from both sides to discuss options and modalities for trade promotion through railways and roads links. He said that Turkiye is manufacturing electric vehicles and it can cooperate with Pakistan in this sector.

Speaking at the occasion, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that despite very cordial relations. Pak-Turkiye bilateral trade is less than US$ 1 billion, which is not encouraging and both countries should facilitate their private sectors to improve it. He said that cargo shipment takes more than 30 days between Pakistan and Turkey and stressed the development of efficient road and railway links to reduce the transportation time. He said that ICCI in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing & Works would organize an international level Housing Expo in Islamabad in December this year and the Embassy should cooperate in inviting investors of the low cost housing sector from Turkiye to participate in the Expo. He said that ICCI intends to organize a Pak-Turk Business Forum in Islamabad to bring Pakistani and Turkish companies at one platform for B2B meetings in order to develop business links in the areas of interest and said that Turkiye embassy should cooperate in inviting Head of MUSAID as a Chief Guest for the event.

Azhar ul Islam Zafar, Vice President ICCI said that Turkiye has good expertise in construction field and it should cooperate with Pakistan in this sector.

Zafar Bakhtawari, Shakeel Munir, Rana Qaiser Shehzad, Rizwan Chheena, Zia Khalid Chaudhry and others also spoke at the occasion and gave useful suggestions for further improving business and investment relations between Pakistan and Turkiye.