Pakistanis living in Kyrgyzstan urged to highlight country's soft image

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has urged the Pakistani community to play its due role to highlight soft image of the country. Addressing Pakistani students and community members in Bishkek on Thursday, he said about 2600 Pakistani students are studying in Kyrgyzstan and they are roaming ambassadors of their country and they should play a proactive role in promoting Pakistan's strength.
He said a community can play a cardinal role in creating goodwill and enabling environment to trade, investment, tourism, and people to people contacts. Qureshi hoped that Pakistani students will accentuate positive image of country in Kyrgyzstan.
The Foreign Minister said unfortunately, trade cooperation with Central Asian states cannot be materialized without having proper and easy connectivity. He opined that chances of trade through land route will be multiplied if there is peace and stability in Afghanistan.
The FM went on to say that the central Asian states are important for Pakistan as Islamabad wants to enhance bilateral and trade relations with these states.
On the occasion, Qureshi urged the Pakistani community to play its due role to highlight soft image of the country. He termed Pakistani students in Kyrgyzstan as roaming ambassadors of the country and added that they should play a proactive role in promoting Pakistan's strength.
The foreign minister said, "A community can play a cardinal role in creating goodwill and enabling environment to trade, investment, tourism, and people to people contacts."
Earlier on April 10, President Dr Arif Alvi had urged Kazakhstan to facilitate access of Pakistani commodities to its markets.
Talking to Kazakhstan Ambassador Barlybay Sadykov, who had called on him in Islamabad, Arif Alvi had called for exploring possibilities to enhance trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Kazakhstan.
The president had highlighted the need to explore possibilities of cooperation and joint ventures in sectors like food processing, textile, machinery and equipment, construction and infrastructure.