FAISALABAD, Apr 24 (APP)::German Commercial Consular Dr. Martin Herzer has said that Germany intends to develop and strengthen mutual trade relations with Pakistan.
“Being a major trade partner in the European market, we will continue support Pakistan to explore more avenues for bilateral business,” he added.
In a meeting with Vice Chairman Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) Ammar Saeed here at PTEA on Tuesday, German Commercial Consular said that Germany is one of the important trade partners of Pakistan and several German companies are working in different trade fields. “Both the countries have potential to increase trade volume and we must carve out ways and means to exploit the available potential,” he added.
He termed GSP plus as a key driver for promoting bilateral trade and said that with duty free access to EU, Pak-German trade volume has reached to 2.6 billion Euros in last year with positive growth of 16%.
He said that Germany is looking at ways of helping Pakistani business community to fully avail from the available opportunity.
In order to further strengthen business institutions, Pakistan-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been established which would further improve bilateral trade and economic relations, he said and added that Germany is currently focusing on renewable energies and energy efficiency in Pakistan including consultancy for individual enterprises on energy conservation in their production processes.
GIZ is already working in different sectors of economy to enhance productivity and working conditions to further improve quality and quantity of exportable surplus from Pakistan, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chairman PTEA Ammar Saeed briefly highlighted the core functions of the association and said that GSP plus has given a quantum jump to Pakistan’s exports to EU and textile exporters being major beneficiary are driving benefit from GSP plus.
He termed Germany as a major export destination for Pakistan and largest trading partner among the EU countries.
He invited the German companies and investors for investment and joint ventures.
Terming B2B interaction as a key tool in trade promotion, he suggested frequent exchange of trade delegations to further strengthen the trade ties.
Inviting German support in energy sector, Ammar Saeed said that Germany has earned respectable name in alternative energy solutions. Therefore transfer of technology and joint ventures in this regard would be a great favour to Pakistan’s economy.
Later PTEA shield was presented to the German Commercial Consular.
Germany intends to develop, strengthen mutual trade relations with Pakistan: Dr Martin Herzer
Pak-China relations, a model for inter-state relations: Chinese Vice President
BEIJING, April 24 (APP):Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan Tuesday said Pakistan-China relations were
all-weather and a model for inter-state relations.
Talking to Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif who called on him, the
Chinese Vice President re-affirmed China’s support to Pakistan’s independence
and sovereignty and its counter-terrorism efforts and stated that China will continue
to contribute to Pakistan’s economic development.
He appreciated Pakistan’s active participation in the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization and looked forward to the participation of the President of Pakistan
in the SCO Qingdao Summit to be held in June this year.
Khawaja Asif said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship project of
President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative was making good progress and
several projects have either been completed or are under implementation.
He said the CPEC will not only contribute to economic development of Pakistan
but also have a salutary effect on the development of the region.
The Foreign Minister congratulated the Vice President on his recent election to
the office and expressed his confidence that the Vice President would continue to
play his role in further strengthening the strong and time-tested bilateral relations
between Pakistan and China.
The Foreign Minister and Vice President discussed various bilateral, regional
and global issues and agreed to continue strategic communications between
Pakistan and China on all issues.
Preparing budget for whole year important: Ahsan
ISLAMABAD, Apr 24 (APP):Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday said it was important to prepare budget for the whole year.
It was the national assembly which approves the development budget, he said while talking to a private news channel.
National Economic Council could not hold the authority to approve the budget, he added, adding it was the prerogative of the national assembly to approve it, he added.
The federation could not implement the tax or any policy for a short period, he said.
Commenting on a press conference addressed by chief ministers, he said it was the election year and they were busy in point scoring.
During senate elections, he said, Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Tehrik e Insaf had become political allies.
To a question about press briefing conducted by the chief ministers of three provinces, he said we will try to remove the reservations of them if any.
To another question, he said after the 18th Amendment, the provinces had the authority for development schemes in their respective areas.
Five policemen embrace martyrdom in Quetta suicide attack
QUETTA, Apr 24 (APP): At least five policemen embraced martyrdom, while seven other sustained injuries when a suicide bomber targeted a police van on Airport Road in Quetta, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Tuesday.
Another attack at Mian Ghundi near western bypass Quetta was successfully thwarted as security personnel killed two suicide bombers when they were trying to target the Frontier Corps (FC) post.
No casualty took place in this incident, the ISPR said.
Pak-Uzbek FMs agree to further strengthen political, economic relations
BEIJING, April 24 (APP):Foreign Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif held a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, Kamilov Abdul Aziz Khafizovich here on Tuesday.
During the meeting held on the sidelines of the Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, both the ministers spoke highly of the historical relations between the two countries and their deep cultural linkages.
Khawaja Asif appreciated the active support of Uzbekistan for Pakistan’s membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization which was finalized during the SCO Astana Summit in Uzbekistan.
The two Foreign Ministers also discussed various issues of mutual interest and agreed to further strengthen bilateral, political, economic and people-to-people relations.
SCO foreign ministers discuss deepening of relations among member-states
BEIJING, April 24 (APP):Eight foreign ministers from member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
(SCO) met on Tuesday to discuss further deepening multilateral relations.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi presided over the meeting. Foreign Minister Khawaja
Muhammad Asif and foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan, India Secretary-General of the SCO and Director of the Executive Committee
of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure attended the meeting.
The meeting focused on international and regional issues that concern all parties and
preparations for the SCO Leaders’ Summit in June in east China’s Qingdao city.
The Foreign Ministers agreed to coordinate closely and to speak in a unified voice on
major international and regional issues, pledging to offer solutions for security and coordinated
efforts.
They re-affirmed that peaceful political process is the only way to solve the Syria issue
and that Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity must be ensured and
maintained.
They agreed the Astana process, the Syrian talks in Geneva and the intra-Syria talks
in Sochi have made significant contributions to promote a political settlement in Syria.
The ministers expressed their deep concern about the missile strike to Syria, carried
out by the three permanent members of the UN Security Council on April 14, 2018. They
believed the strike exacerbated the suffering of the Syrian people.
As the UN Security Council discussed this issue on April 13, 2018, the ministers called
all parties to demonstrate restraint and avoid any actions that could escalate the conflicts further
and to support UN’s core role to secure world peace and stability.
They also agreed that SCO member states would step up in connecting China’s Belt and
Road Initiative with each country’s development plan.
Speaking at the meeting, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the SCO has agreed on
14 resolutions, and most of them will be signed during the Qingdao Summit.
They include the declaration of the SCO member countries, a long-term treaty of friendship
among neighboring countries, an outline of plans for the next five years, and cooperation from
many other perspectives, Wang said.
Wang emphasized to further advocate the “Shanghai Spirit”, which will be a highlight of the
June’s SCO Qingdao summit.
He pointed the success of the SCO lies in its underlying principle of the “Shanghai Spirit”.
The SCO Qingdao summit is an opportunity to revitalize this and the summit will enhance
trust and solidarity between the member states, building a closer SCO community.
Wang said cooperation should be mutually beneficial. He called on countries to improve
the convenience of international transportation and to facilitate trade and inter-connectivity.
China took the chairmanship of the SCO last June. Before the Qingdao summit, it will
host a meeting of supreme court judges, tourism ministers, political parties and the media
representatives from SCO members.
Khurram Dastgir attends SCO Defence Minister’s meeting
BEIJING, April 24 (APP):Defence Minister Engr. Khurram Dastgir attended the 15th Defense Ministers’ Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States held here on Tuesday.
Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defence Wei Fenghe presided over the meeting.
The Defence ministers from the SCO member states including the defence ministers of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and ambassador of India participated in the event, and the defence minister of Belarus attended as a special guest.
This is the first defence ministers’ meeting after the bloc was expanded for the first time to add India and Pakistan as full members last year.
Pak-Uzbek FMs agree to further strengthen political, economic relations
BEIJING, April 24 (APP):Foreign Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif held a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, Kamilov Abdul Aziz Khafizovich here on Tuesday.
During the meeting held on the sidelines of the Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, both the ministers spoke highly of the historical relations between the two countries and their deep cultural linkages.
Khawaja Asif appreciated the active support of Uzbekistan for Pakistan’s membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization which was finalized during the SCO Astana Summit in Uzbekistan.
The two Foreign Ministers also discussed various issues of mutual interest and agreed to further strengthen bilateral, political, economic and people-to-people relations.
Khurram Dastgir attends SCO Defence Minister’s meeting
BEIJING, April 24 (APP):Defence Minister Engr. Khurram Dastgir attended the 15th Defense Ministers’ Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States held here on Tuesday.
Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defence Wei Fenghe presided over the meeting.
The Defence ministers from the SCO member states including the defence ministers of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and ambassador of India participated in the event, and the defence minister of Belarus India attended as a special guest.
This is the first defence ministers’ meeting after the bloc was expanded for the first time to add India and Pakistan as full members last year.
WhatsApp numbers to help Pakistani expats in Oman
ISLAMABAD, Apr 24 (APP):Pakistan’s Ambassador to Oman Ali Javed said the Embassy of Pakistan had launched an individual “Whatsapp Exchange Program” for community welfare.
These WhatsApp numbers will assist in resolving queries for Community Welfare Wing (manpower, deaths, transfer of human remains compensations, medical emergencies and destitute cases), MRP (MRP,CNIC, PoC), immigration Wing (visa violator, illegal entrants, prisoners, detainees, and deportations), to bring further strength to our outreach efforts, said a handout received here on Tuesday.
He said an extraordinary outreach initiative of Whatsapp Broadcast was launched in January 2017. Whereas one message consumes 9 hours to broadcast to our near 13,000 voluntary subscribers, we additionally have amassed 11,000 subscribers to our E-mail Bank.
He said relations between the two sides were historic and unique and that the friendship, cooperation between both the countries serve the fundamental interests.
Moreover, the Pakistani ambassador expressed hope that a ferry from Gwadar to Oman would soon become a reality, noting that the two governments were working together to begin the service.
The ambassador said Pakistani expatriates in Oman were playing an important role in economic activity in the country.
Javed noted that “I would like to praise the efforts of the Pakistan Oman Investment Company (Pak-Oman).
He had a vision of setting up a company that would act as a vehicle of investments between the two nations. It deals mostly in micro-financing.
Meanwhile, the ambassador of Pakistan Received Dr.S.M. Junaid Zaidi Founder Rector Institute of Information Technology and Executive Director COMSATS (Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development).
The delegation was visiting Oman at the invitation of Oman Nat’l computer emergency readiness team and held significant meeting with the Sultan Qaboos University.