ISLAMABAD, FEB 26: /DNA/ – The host and chairman of Khawaja Junaid Hockey Academy thanked the OHC Bully team, Dutch Embassy in Islamabad, Punjab Police, HEC, and other stakeholders who were involved and made this Friendship Hockey Series possible. According to Khawaja Junaid, over the past few weeks, the Dutch hockey club OHC Bully had the opportunity to visit Lahore and Islamabad, two beautiful cities in Pakistan. This visit was not only an exciting experience for the club members, but it also served as a way to strengthen cultural ties between the Netherlands and Pakistan. The members of OHC Bully were warmly welcomed by the locals, who were eager to showcase their hospitality and love for the game of hockey.

During their visit to Lahore, the OHC Bully members were able to experience the rich history and culture of the city. They visited Sialkot, famous for sports manufacturers and especially flag ceremony at Wahga Border. Additionally, the club had the opportunity to play three friendly matches with the Prime Minister Youth Program HEC talent team, which they won and allowed them to learn new techniques and strategies from their Pakistani counterparts. In Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, OHC Bully had the chance to explore the modern and vibrant side of the country.

One of the highlights of the visit was the cultural exchange between the Dutch and Pakistani hockey players. The OHC Bully members were able to share their love through songs at a dinner hosted by HEC chairman Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad. This exchange not only strengthened the bond between the two countries but also created lasting friendships among the players.

The visit of OHC Bully to Lahore and Islamabad was a memorable experience for both the club members and the locals. It showcased the power of sports in bringing people together and bridging cultural divides. The club members returned to the Netherlands with a newfound appreciation for Pakistani culture and a deeper understanding of the country.
Overall, the visit of OHC Bully to Lahore and Islamabad was a successful and enriching experience. It served as a reminder of the importance of cultural exchange and sports diplomacy in fostering understanding and friendship between nations. The club members were grateful for the warm welcome they received in Pakistan and look forward to future opportunities to continue building strong connections with the people of Lahore and Islamabad. Khawaj Junaid concluded.

LAHORE, FEB 26 /DNA/ – Ambassador of Bulgaria Irena Gancheva has said that Pakistan and Bulgaria need to explore opportunities for collaboration as the potential between both countries is not being utilized.

Bulgaria offers collaboration and business opportunities in various sectors including food processing, agriculture, IT and new technologies. She was speaking to the business community here at Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Monday. LCCI President Kashif Anwar, Senior Vice President Zafar Mahmood Chaudhry also spoke on the occasion. Executive Committee Members Raja Hassan Akhter, Mian Attiq ur Rehman, Ahmed Elahi and Mohammad Tauqeer Malik were also present.

The Ambassador said that the bilateral figures of trade between Pakistan and Bulgaria need to be improved. She said that new trends are also being observed in trade between both countries as Bulgaria is exporting wheat and importing mainly textile items from Pakistan as this is the case of whole of the European Union.

She also gave in depth information about Bulgaria which has been an EU member since 2007. She said that Bulgaria offers a favorable taxation system for the investors and with strong traditions, it provides access to all EU markets with 1.3 billion customers.

The Ambassador said that Bulgaria is very good in Information Technology, automotive, mechanical engineering, electronics, mechatronics and robotics and also provides very low operational costs. Bulgaria is also very strong in manufacturing, plastic and rubber products.

She said that Bulgaria has top ten fastest internet mobile with world class artificial research. She emphasized on exploring more opportunities to diversify trade and partnerships. She said that as a member of the EU, Bulgaria is also part of GSP Plus arrangements. She said that she will also share the information with the Lahore Chamber regarding international exhibitions in Bulgaria during this year.

LCCI President Kashif Anwar said that Pakistan and Bulgaria enjoy cordial diplomatic, political and economic relations. Bulgaria has been giving continued support to Pakistan for the GSP Plus status which played a very important role in enhancing Pakistan’s exports to the European Union (EU).

He said that Bulgaria is an important economy. Its strategic location serves as a gateway for Pakistani products to enter the European Union (EU) market. He said that strengthening trade ties with Bulgaria opens up avenues for Pakistani exporters to expand their reach into the EU market.

The LCCI President said it is important to recognize the immense opportunities that lie ahead in enhancing trade and economic relations between our two countries. We need to make some concerted efforts to boost the bilateral trade to at least One billion dollars in the near future.

Kashif Anwar said that the volume of Bulgaria’s total global trade is around 108 billion dollars whereas Pakistan’s share in it is merely 80 million dollars. He said that it does not reflect the actual potential of bilateral trade. Pakistan exports bed-linen, woven fabrics, cotton yarn, tobacco, medical appliances and rice etc., to Bulgaria and our imports consist of wheat, worn clothing, tobacco and parts of tractors etc.

He said that there is a considerable scope for Bulgaria to enhance its imports of citrus fruits, mangoes, value added textiles, sports goods, leather products, furniture and marble etc. from Pakistan. He said that the potential areas where Pakistan and Bulgaria can enhance economic cooperation through Joint Ventures (JVs) are Information Technology, Food Processing, Automotive sector, Tourism and Agriculture Technology. There is also tremendous potential of cooperation in education sector by developing collaborations between Pakistani and Bulgarian universities and arranging exchanges of faculty and students.

The LCCI President informed the Ambassador about the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) established by the government of Pakistan to primarily focus on expediting new investments in five areas including defence, agriculture, minerals, information technology, telecommunication and energy.

He hoped that the Ambassador would apprise the investors from Bulgaria about these investment opportunities in Pakistan under SIFC. The government of Punjab is making an all-out effort to improve business climate in the province by facilitating international and national investors through one window operations in the Business Facilitation Centres.

Kashif Anwar said that there is a great need to connect the private sectors of both countries for exploiting the potential opportunities. It can be done through exchange of export-oriented delegations and participation in trade fairs and exhibitions.