Pakistani Ambassador to Nepal Abrar H Hashmi paid a courtesy call on Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav at the latter’s residence in Lainchaur on Thursday.
During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations between the two countries, trade and economy and cooperation in regional and international forums after exchanging the greetings, Vice President Yadav’s Secretariat informed.
Vice President Yadav said that Nepal and Pakistan have had close and harmonious relations since the establishment of diplomatic relations on March 20, 1960.
“It is necessary that we have to continue dialogue through joint economic commission and bilateral political consultation mechanism established between the two countries,” he said, adding, “The exchange of high-level visits between the two countries has always enhanced the relationship.”
Vice President Yadav said that Nepal and Pakistan should expand cooperation in trade and economic sectors.
“Both the countries can work together in many sectors including investment, tourism, culture and people-to-people relations among others. We have to encourage our private sector,” he said.
Saying that Nepal is a safe place for investment, Vice President Yadav said that Nepal has established ‘One Stop Service Center’ in the Department of Industry to facilitate foreign investors.
“Nepal welcomes Pakistani investors in hydropower, tourism, infrastructure and ICT among other areas,” he said. “I would like to thank Pakistan for providing annual scholarships under the Pakistan Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) to Nepali students to study medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and engineering.”
Mentioning that Nepal has been providing attractive tourist products and services to Pakistani tourists, Vice President Yadav expressed his belief that Nepal’s nature, archeological and cultural heritage would attract a large number of Pakistani tourists to Nepal.
Regarding cooperation in regional and international forums, he said, “Nepal and Pakistan have the same views on many issues and our concerns are similar in multilateral forums.”
Both the countries have been helping each other in regional and international forums including United Nations, non-aligned movement and SAARC among others forums.
Vice President Yadav said that SAARC should be taken ahead for peace, prosperity and welfare of the people of South Asia.
“Nepal as the chair of SAARC has been trying its best to resume the stalled SAARC process,” he said, adding, “The help of all the member countries is essential for the same.”
Expressing deep concern over the effects of global warming and climate change in Hindu-Kush Himalayan region, he said that both the countries should join hands to combat the effects of climate change.
Pakistani Ambassador Abrar H Hashmi said that Nepal and Pakistan have a close and harmonious relations and both the countries have been respecting the sovereignty of each other’s countries.
He said that Nepal’s role in SAARC is laudable.
Saying that many groups are becoming active between Nepal and Pakistan, the Pakistani ambassador said that Nepal has been working in the sectors of tourism, agriculture and energy.
“Out of eight Pakistani investors who participated in the investment summit organized recently by Nepal, one has made an agreement with the Nepal government,” he said.
