ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar anncounced on Sunday that Pakistan would share with Egypt a list of 250 business houses to enhance bilateral commercial engagement.
The announcement made by Dar, while addressing a press conference alongside Foreign Minister of Egypt Dr Badr Ahmed Mohammed Abdelatty, after holding a meeting at the Foreign Office in Islamabad. Dar informed Pakistan and Egypt had agreed to increase partnership in all areas, including economy and defence.
The deputy PM further said that cooperation between the two countries in defence and trade was strengthening with each passing day. He expressed the hope that the Egyptian FM’s visit would help achieve common targets.
Dar said, “Discussions today reaffirm the strength of Pakistan-Egypt relations, and our shared commitment to further enhance bilateral cooperation across political, economic, defence, cultural and people-to-people domains.”
“We agreed to work towards a more structured framework of cooperation and to explore new avenues of partnership,” the deputy premier noted, adding he was confident that the visit would “open new avenues of practical cooperation” between the two countries.
Dar said he and Abdelatty had a “very focused discussion” today on how their nations could contribute to elevating the business-to-business upscaling of the bilateral activities, which the deputy PM termed as “surely not commensurate”, with around $300 million.
“With the depth and the affection the two countries have, we have agreed No. 1, that Pakistan will share with Egypt a comprehensive list of 250 Pakistani business houses representing key sectors of the economy,” Dar announced.
“These businesses will be facilitated and supported to enhance bilateral commercial engagement,” the deputy premier highlighted.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Badr said that Egypt condemned incidents of terrorism in Islamabad and Peshawar. “We offer our condolences to the government and people of Pakistan and over the loss of lives and properties in these acts of terror,” he added.
The Egyptian FM said that there existed brotherly relations between the two countries. “Cooperation between the two countries in security and other sectors in increasing,” he added.
During his visit, Abdelatty would discuss a wide agenda — from consultations on conflicts, including Gaza and Sudan, and the dispute over the Iranian nuclear programme, to ways of boosting economic cooperation.
Foreign Ministry spokesman said that there would also be talks between delegations of the two countries. “In these talks, both sides will discuss situation in the region as well as in the world,” he said, and added, “The situation in Gaza will also come under discussion at the meeting.”
Also read:Foreign Minister of Egypt visits Pakistan today: says FO
