ISLAMABAD, Nov 18 (APP): The newly appointed Ambassador of Denmark to Pakistan Maja Mortensen on Tuesday paid a courtesy call on Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb and expressed her enthusiasm for commencing her diplomatic tenure in Pakistan.
She noted the depth and vibrancy of the longstanding bilateral relations between Denmark and Pakistan, highlighting that three Danish delegations are visiting Pakistan this week which is an indication of the growing engagement between the two countries.
She appreciated the warm welcome she has received since her arrival and discussed the strong commercial interest Danish companies continue to maintain in Pakistan, including engagements in logistics, maritime infrastructure, manufacturing, and energy, said a press release.
The Ambassador noted that several firms remain keen to expand operations and emphasized Denmark’s readiness to work closely with Pakistani authorities to facilitate consistent and transparent business conditions.
The two sides discussed ongoing initiatives such as the forthcoming meetings under the GCC framework, the interest of Danish entities in Pakistan’s port and logistics ecosystem, and the wide-ranging potential for collaboration in green transition, energy efficiency, and technological innovation.
Ambassador Mortensen highlighted Denmark’s comprehensive government-to-government cooperation program in the energy sector, supported by the Danish Energy Agency, which focuses on energy modelling, infrastructure planning, grid efficiency, and capacity building.
The Finance Minister extended his felicitations to the Ambassador on her new assignment and welcomed her to Pakistan. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening ties with Denmark, particularly in trade, investment, energy cooperation, and sustainable development.
The Minister noted that Pakistan’s macroeconomic fundamentals have significantly improved, citing enhanced foreign exchange reserves, declining inflation, a stable currency, and strengthened relationships with major international partners including the United States, China, GCC countries, and the European Union.
Senator Aurangzeb also emphasized the government’s focus on enabling foreign investors, acknowledging past challenges faced by some companies. He assured that Pakistan has cleared outstanding foreign payment backlogs and is maintaining a positive trajectory in its fiscal and monetary stabilization efforts.
He highlighted key reforms underway, including broadening the tax base, enhancing compliance, reducing leakages in the energy sector, and lowering financing costs as inflation continues to decrease.
The Minister was also briefed on Denmark’s major waste water treatment project in Faisalabad, one of the largest in the region, being implemented in partnership with WASA, with Danish financing that includes a significant grant component. The project will feature a six-year engagement model to ensure sustainability and effective knowledge transfer.
Ambassador Mortensen expressed interest in engaging with the Danish Business Club in Pakistan and undertaking visits to Lahore and Karachi in the coming weeks to meet industry leaders and strengthen commercial ties.
The Minister and the Ambassador also exchanged views on climate finance reforms. A team member from the Ministry highlighted Denmark’s global leadership in climate financing frameworks and the growing role of Ministries of Finance worldwide in mainstreaming climate resilience within national budgeting processes.
The Minister concurred, noting Pakistan’s active participation in related global forums and the integration of sustainable development objectives within the Ministry of Finance.
In closing, Senator Aurangzeb thanked Ambassador Mortensen for her visit and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to further deepening bilateral relations across economic, developmental, and environmental spheres.