ISLAMABAD, Feb 23 (APP): A delegation from the Golden Ring Economic Forum (FREF), Lahore, led by its Chairman Lt. Gen. Sikander Afzal (R), visited the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI). Other members of the delegation included Engr. Hasnain Reza Mirza, President; Mr. Meher Kashif Younus, Vice President; and Dr. Shahid Hasan, Director BoG.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Director General, led the ISSI side. Other participants included Dr. Neelum Nigar, Director CSP, Ms. Mahrukh Khan, RF, Mr. Muhammad Naeem Salik, Research Fellow, and Mr. Muhammad Taimur Fahad Khan, Research Associate.
The GREF delegation highlighted its role as a think-tank focussing on long-term economic and strategic issues that are of importance to Pakistan. The discussions pertained to Pakistan’s relations with Turkiye, Russia, China, Iran, and Central Asian Republics. The exchange of views focussed on the political, diplomatic, trade, investment, energy, and people-to-people aspects of these relationships.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood underscored the importance of injecting enhanced economic content into these relationships, stressing that as an imperative. He underlined that while prudently handling the geo-politics, Pakistan’s task was to accentuate its pivot to geo-economics. In this context, he added, mobilization of efforts for enhanced trade, investment, economic cooperation, and connectivity was indispensable.
The two sides agreed to increase mutual collaboration, with a primary emphasis on geo-economics and regional connectivity.
