Vast trade, tourism opportunities for ASEAS countries in Pakistan: Baligh
LAHORE (INP): Governor Punjab, Muhammad Balighur Rehman has said that Pakistan has pleasant and friendly relations with ASEAN countries and was committed to further strengthening and deepening its ties with ASEAN countries.
He expressed these views while talking to the participants of Foreign Diplomatic Course from ASEAN member states led by Director General of Foreign Service Academy, Muhammad Mazhar Javed who called on him at Governor House Lahore on Monday. The delegation comprised 22 diplomats from eight ASEAN member countries.
Muhammad Balighur Rehman welcomed the foreign diplomats from various ASEAN countries to the Governor House. He said that Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with ASEAN member states.
He said that the Foreign Service Academy is a premier institution with global reach. It has trained over three thousand diplomats, half of which are foreign diplomats. The Punjab Governor expressed hope that this course at Foreign Service Academy would immensely help them to hone their diplomatic skills. He said that people to people connections play an important role in improving relations between countries.
Governor Punjab said that there were vast opportunities to promote trade relations with ASEAN countries. He further stated that Pakistan exports high-quality textile products to international markets, adding that ASEAN member countries can explore trade opportunities in textile sector in Pakistan. Similarly, ASEAN countries can find opportunities to import their products in Pakistan, he said.
He said that there were beautiful tourist spots in the north of Pakistan. He said that the tourists who visit Pakistan for the purpose of tourism can also find business opportunities here. The Governor of Punjab said that augmenting ties with ASEAN countries in the field of tourism, trade, and education will further boost bilateral cooperation.
Balighur Rehman said that Pakistan offers seats in the fields of BDS/MBBS and Engineering to ASEAN countries under Pakistan Technical Assistance Programme. He said that the students belonging to ASEAN countries can benefit from this facility. Studying here will be a pleasant experience for them, he added.
He said that businessmen from ASEAN countries can benefit from export processing zones set up under CPEC in Pakistan. He said that Pakistan has vast investment potential in corporate farming in agriculture sector. Governor Punjab added that climate change was a global issue. There was a need to make collaborated efforts to tackle the challenge of climate change. Governor Punjab said that this course would provide them excellent networking opportunity and they would cultivate long-lasting friendships that would go a long way in their careers.
On this occasion, Director General Foreign Service Academy, Muhammad Mazhar Javed, shed light on the aims and objectives of the institution. The Director Administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Maryam Saeed was also present on this occasion. The delegation comprised diplomatic course participants from ASEAN member countries; Indonesia, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Philippines.
