Ashraf AboArafe
On banks of the Nile, the Embassy of Pakistan celebrated its National Day tonight. In this occasion, Mr ambassador Sajid Bilal, said that both Egypt and Pakistan have similar visions, opportunities, and capabilities, and over the past year, the two countries have worked to achieve a comprehensive agenda for bilateral cooperation that includes the political, trade, and investment fields, energy cooperation, and deepening people-to-people ties through increased exchange. Educational and cultural, this came during a celebration of Pakistani National Day.
The ceremony was attended by a number of ambassadors and members of diplomatic missions from Tunisia, the Sultanate of Oman, Iran, Turkey, North Korea, and China, while Minister Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Public Business Sector, Ambassador Ahmed Shaheen, Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs, and Dr. Asma Al-Zeini, Relations Officer, attended the ceremony. Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation at the Center for the Development of Education for Foreign and International Students, affiliated with the Sheikhdom of Al-Azhar, and from the Pakistani Embassy, Consul General Shafkat Ali, Colonel Shahid Javed, Pakistani Military Attaché, Media Advisor Muhammad Faisal, and Information Officer Hanan Hamid.
The ambassador continued: Working in Egypt is a great honor for me, and Egypt has always given me a feeling that I am in my country, explaining that historical relations are built on a strong foundation of common faith, cultural affiliations, and aspirations, and we are committed to transforming this relationship into a lasting partnership.
He pointed out that economic cooperation and trade relations are a distinctive feature of bilateral relations in 2023. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached $400 million last year, and Pakistan’s investments in Egypt reached $400 million. He continued: After the success of the Trade Opportunities Conference between Pakistan and Egypt in September 2023. We held the 4th Pakistan-Africa Trade Development Conference and One Country Exhibition in Cairo. The two events attracted more than 250 Pakistani companies and 150 business participants from the MENA region. The Pakistani Minister of Commerce headed a high-level official delegation to attend this event, and last September, a famous Qawwal band of Pakistani Sufi music participated in the Samaa International Festival of Religious Chanting and touched people’s feelings.
He explained that in the field of education, the two countries are working together to not only enhance existing cooperation but also seek to explore new ways of cooperation. Urdu, the national language of Pakistan, is taught in 6 universities across Egypt.
He pointed out that Pakistan’s National Day is a historic moment in the history of Pakistan. On this day in 1940, the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent gathered in Lahore to adopt the historic “Pakistani Resolution”, which demanded a separate homeland, where they could live their lives with honor and dignity, while Pakistan made exceptional achievements despite the enormous challenges, and played a decisive role in Solve the problems facing humanity and contribute to achieving world peace.
He continued: Pakistan is a country blessed with enormous potential and opportunities. It is the fifth largest country in the world in terms of population and is located at the intersection of South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East, with a growing middle class that is approaching 100 million, 130 million young people under the age of 30, and 125 million. With one million Internet subscribers, Pakistan is a popular market for trade and investment. The younger generation is rapidly mastering new technology, IT and digital trends.
