ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina have agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields including trade and investment, energy, science and technology, defence industry, education, and people-to-people exchanges.
This was agreed during a meeting between Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and the visiting Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sefik Dzaferovic, who arrived here on a two-day official visit on Wednesday.
On arrival along with a high-level delegation, Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul and other government officials received the Bosnian president.
Foreign Minister Qureshi along with Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood and other senior officials of the Foreign Office separately held a call on the visiting Bosnian president.
“Views were exchanged on the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation. It was agreed that a vast potential existed to enhance cooperation, especially in fields of trade and investment, energy, science & technology, defence industry, education, and people-to-people exchanges,” the Foreign Office said in a statement. The FM underlined the importance of promoting mutual collaboration through optimal utilisation of mechanisms of Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC), Joint Economic Commission (JEC) and Joint Trade Committee (JTC).
He also offered training at the Foreign Service Academy for the young diplomats from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Extending a warm welcome to the chairman on his first visit to Pakistan, the FM underlined the fraternal nature of relations between Pakistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina marked by warmth and cordiality.
It added that Qureshi stated that there was remarkable goodwill for the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina among the people of Pakistan.
Both countries had supported each other in times of need.
Foreign Minister Qureshi briefed the chairman on the grave human rights situation in the IIOJK as well as India’s illegal measures to change the demographic structure of the occupied territory, which was against the UNSC resolutions, international law, and the 4th Geneva Convention.
The FM thanked the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina for taking a principled position on the issue.
Qureshi also highlighted Pakistan’s positive contribution to the Afghan peace process and reaffirmed support for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned leading to an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement. He expressed condolence on the loss of precious lives in Bosnia and Herzegovina due to the Covid-19. He apprised Chairman Dzaferovic of Pakistan’s strategy of “smart lockdown” and the prime minister’s stress on saving lives, securing livelihoods, and stimulating the economy.
“Both sides appreciated the strong cooperation at the multilateral fora, especially at the UN. It was agreed to continue such mutual support to each other,” it added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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