Daily Times

A high profile French Parliamentary Delegation, on Wednesday, met with the Pakistan Senate Parliamentary Friendship Group.

The French delegation was headed by Pakistan France Friendship Group in French Senate Chairman, Senator Pascal Allizard, while the Pakistani delegation was led by Senator Faisal Javed Khan in the meeting held here at the Parliament House.

Senator Khan welcomed the delegation and observed the bilateral relationship had grown over the years; with the huge potential of both sides, especially among the youth, to take it to new heights.

He remarked that with over 65 per cent of the youth bulge, they held the power to change the tide for the country.

After the new government had come into power, there was an enhanced focus on trade and business with different countries, Senator Khan maintained.

He added our orientation towards France was no different.

Senator Lt Gen Abdul Qayyum, who headed the friendship group in the last tenure, explicated upon the interactions and engagements held between the two parliaments through the two friendship groups.

He observed Pakistan was a land of opportunities for business investments as well as tourism.

As of now, 46 French companies were said to be doing business in Pakistan while the senator hoped to see a manifold increase in number.

The Pakistani delegation expressed hope that France would explore investment in agriculture research, climate change, railway, surgical instruments, and technical training centres among other sectors.

The cooperation in the defence sector also came under discussion and both sides looked forward to enhanced cooperation.

Senator Khan remarked that in terms of heritage and cultural exchange and the vast tourism potential, France could explore a wide array of opportunities to further build the ties with Pakistan.

Pak senators call Pak land of business, tourism opportunities

He said the present government had revised its visa policies while according high priority to improving the ease of business and investment as well as providing the tourism appeal.

The senator added that the incumbent government, especially the prime minister, was passionate about facilitating tourism in Pakistan while the sole purpose of revising the visa policy stood to promote tourism.

He said Pakistan was rich in mountain tourism, beach tourism and religious tourism among other areas.

Senator Pascal Allizard also concurred that trade and business needed to be enhanced.

He said the Friendship group in the French Senate had been focusing on economic research, teaching, and cultural exchange in its work for the last four years.

Much success was said to have been achieved in increasing the number of Pakistani students enrolled in higher education institutions in France.

Members of the Senate appreciated the role of the parliamentary friendship group in cementing the ties between the two countries.

They expressed hope that Pakistan had a lot to learn from France as it was not just a prominent country in Europe but a central country at the global stage.

French delegation noted many of the hurdles previously faced by the French business companies had now been resolved and soon more and more French companies would invest in Pakistan.

The Pakistani delegation was also told that it was largely due to these friendship groups that the perception of Pakistan’s economic stability and security situation had changed in France. Pakistani Senators expressed gratitude to the French Senators for their support while hoping the true picture of Pakistan and its people would soon make way to the international community.