Daily Times

Pakistan and France on Tuesday agreed to further boost trade, defence and parliamentary cooperation and explore new avenues to enhance bilateral ties for mutual benefit of the people of both the countries.

This was decided at a meeting of French Ambassador to Pakistan Marc Barety and Senate’s Standing Committee on Defence Chairman Senator Muhammad Azam Khan Swati at the Parliament House.

Pakistan attaches high importance to its relations with France and wants further collaboration in different sectors, said Azam Swati, adding that the parliamentary diplomacy can play an important role in building the socio-economic ties and parliamentary friendship groups need to be revitalised to bring the two sides closer.

He lauded the cooperation between Pakistan and France at international forums and thanked the French government and the parliament for extending support to Pakistan on defence and security issues and assistance in countering illegal immigration and achieving GSP Plus status through which Pakistani exports were able to make place in European markets.

Azam Swati said that Pakistan wanted peace to flourish at regional and global level as development was directly linked to peace. He observed that Pakistan was against terrorism in all its forms and manifestation and wanted friendly ties with neighbouring countries. He, however, highlighted the atrocities inflicted upon innocent Kashmiris in Indian-held Kashmir and said that global community needed to take cognizance of the human rights violation being committed by the Indian occupying forces.

Referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, he said that the multi-billion dollar project would prove to be a game changer and would accelerate the pace of socio-economic development of Pakistan and the region.

Considering that there existed a huge scope for trade and investment, both side agree to enhance the trade volume, which currently stands at 1.2 billion Euros.

The French ambassador observed that Board of Investment was an important platform to assist in identifying potential investment opportunities, however, he said that it should be one-window facility for all. He also diverted attention of the senator towards boosting cooperation in defence and security-related matters. He said that French companies were willing to initiate defence cooperation, however, they had not been able to get contracts despite the fact that both the countries enjoyed excellent cooperation in defence sector.

Published in Daily Times, June 20^th 2018.