- Advertisement -
ISLAMABAD, Jul 16 (APP): The Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa (CAMEA) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Pakistan Africa Institute for Development and Research (PAIDAR), organized an event to commemorate Egypt’s ‘Revolution Day’.
The proceedings, which began with the national anthems of Pakistan and Egypt, were moderated by Amina Khan, Director CAMEA, said a press release issued here on Wednesday.
Speakers included Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Director General ISSI; Dr. Ihab Abdelhamid Hassan, Ambassador of Egypt to Pakistan; Aamir Shouket, Ambassador of Pakistan to Egypt; and Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman BOG ISSI.
The Chief Guest on the occasion was Mushahid Hussain Sayed, President PAIDAR, and the Keynote Speaker was Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan, Additional Secretary (Africa), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan (MOFA).
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said that Africa is now firmly on Pakistan’s foreign policy radar, with Egypt occupying a special place. He described Egypt as a unique civilizational state with a 5,000-year-old history and a strategic, political, cultural and intellectual centre of gravity in the Arab world. He highlighted three key contributions of Egypt after World War II: the 1952 Revolution, the 1956 nationalization of the Suez Canal by President Gamal Abdel Nasser, and the strong Egyptian response to Israeli aggression during the 1973 Ramadan War. He also noted that Pakistan facilitated Egypt’s return to the OIC in 1984 and recalled that Egypt was one of the countries Quaid-i-Azam visited after independence, a reflection of the historic and enduring bonds between the two nations.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, in his remarks, recalled the historic significance of the July 1952 Revolution, which marked a transformative moment in Egypt’s journey towards sovereignty, dignity, and social justice, and inspired peoples across the Arab world and Africa. Paying tribute to the Egyptian people’s resilience, he noted Egypt’s important contributions to peace, stability, and development in the Middle East and North Africa. He highlighted the long-standing and cordial relations between Pakistan and Egypt, rooted in shared values and mutual respect. He noted that Pakistan and Egypt had a longstanding tradition of close collaboration in multilateral fourms including the UN, OIC, Developing-8 and NAM. Ambassador Sohail Mahmood underlined the potential for deepening cooperation in trade, investment, energy, infrastructure, education, and tourism. He acknowledged Egypt’s pivotal role in Pakistan’s ‘Engage Africa’ policy. Stressing the importance of academic and policy exchanges, he reaffirmed ISSI’s commitment to fostering stronger linkages with Egyptian think-tanks and research institutions and concluded with warm felicitations to the Government and people of Egypt on this important occasion.
Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan lauded Egypt’s rich history, iconic architecture, and Al-Azhar as a jewel of Islamic heritage. He noted shared challenges like water security and praised Egypt’s thriving tourism sector, urging Pakistan to learn from its success. Highlighting Pakistan’s football factory in Egypt, he underscored investment potential in Africa.Emphasizing job creation and youth engagement, he called for Pakistan to adopt a forward-looking agenda like Egypt’s Vision 2030.
Amina Khan highlighted the significance of Egypt’s Revolution Day as a landmark in the country’s journey toward sovereignty and regional leadership. She emphasized Egypt’s vital role in the Arab and African regions and its importance to Pakistan’s ‘Engage Africa’ policy. Ms. Khan also pointed to the promising potential for collaboration in higher education, agriculture, climate adaptation, and digital connectivity.
Ambassador Dr. Ihab Abdelhamid Hassan stated that July 23 marks a proud moment as Egypt commemorates the 1952 Revolution, a key pillar of its dignity and resilience. He highlighted the strong Egypt-Pakistan ties, built on shared values and a mutual vision for peace. Egypt was among the first to recognize Pakistan diplomatically, and both countries have cooperated closely in diplomacy, defence, and multilateral forums. He also noted Egypt’s continued friendship through annual scholarships for Pakistani students at Al-Azhar University.
Ambassador Ihab also presented a set of books on a diverse range of subjects from Egypt for the ISSI library on the occasion.
Ambassador Aamir Shouket highlighted the historic significance of the July Revolution as a turning point in Egypt’s modern history, marking a collective push for national resurgence and stability. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s deep respect for Egypt’s transformational journey and underscored the enduring partnership between the two countries, rooted in shared history, cultural affinity, and mutual strategic alignment. He also highlighted the current status of bilateral cooperation in diverse fields and the potential for enhanced collaboration in the future.
Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, in his vote of thanks, stated that Pakistan and Egypt share close and historic ties, aligned with Pakistan’s ‘Engage Africa’ policy. He noted that both ISSI and PAIDAR are playing an important role in advancing this relationship.