ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will hold roadshows in China to boost export of Pakistani products in Chinese markets, officials said on Monday, amid Islamabad’s push to increase trade.
The statement came at a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review Chinese investment in Pakistan, during which he was briefed on a visit by a delegation of Chinese experts from July 30 till August 6, according to Sharif’s office.
Officials said the Chinese delegation met representatives of various ministries and significant progress was made in terms of cooperation and investment in the fields of trade and investment, energy, agriculture, information technology and infrastructure.
“Services of Chinese experts will be sought to increase domestic exports and eliminate non-trade barriers,” Sharif’s office quoted officials as saying at the briefing.
“Sectoral roadshows will be organized in different cities of China to increase exports of Pakistani products.”
Since avoiding a default last year, Pakistan has been trying to attract foreign investment and boost trade by leveraging its geostrategic position as a pivotal trade and transit hub.
In recent months, there has been a flurry of visits, investment talks, and economic activity between Pakistan, China and Central Asian states, including Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
During Monday’s meeting, officials said they had so far received 572 applications from Pakistani students and research scholars who sought training in the field of agriculture in China as part of a recent Pakistani government initiative.
The prime minister directed authorities to give equal representation to all provinces in the training, according to his office. He gave the directives to form a committee, led by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, to ensure transparent selection of students and research scholars in this regard.
Earlier this month, Sharif emphasized the need to bolster Pakistan-China relations in diverse sectors, including agriculture, mines and minerals, information technology and infrastructure. He was addressing a meeting with representatives of foreign companies working in Pakistan, including a large number of Chinese businesspersons, according to Pakistani state media.
Sharif said Pakistan’s economy largely relied on agriculture and it was time for them to exploit the sector to its full potential and open new ventures in value-added services.
Pakistan to hold roadshows in China to boost export of local products — officials
https://arab.news/6cfkz
Pakistan to hold roadshows in China to boost export of local products — officials
- Since avoiding a sovereign default last year, Pakistan has been trying to boost trade by leveraging its geostrategic position
- There has recently been a flurry of visits, investment talks and economic activity between Pakistan, China and other states
Pakistan says Indian minister initiated handshake in Dhaka, first contact since May conflict
- Pakistan’s Ayaz Sadiq and India’s Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met on the sidelines of Khaleda Zia’s funeral
- The National Assembly of Pakistan says Islamabad has consistently emphasized dialogue with New Delhi
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Wednesday Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar initiated a brief handshake with Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in Dhaka, marking the first high-level contact between the two nuclear-armed rivals since their military conflict in May.
The encounter took place on the sidelines of the funeral of former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia, attended by senior officials and diplomats from multiple countries.
Ties between India and Pakistan have remained frozen since a four-day military confrontation in May, during which both sides exchanged missile, drone and air strikes before a ceasefire brokered by Washington.
“During Speaker NA Sardar Ayaz Sadiq’s visit to the Parliament of Bangladesh ... the Indian External Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar approached the Speaker National Assembly and [shook] hands,” Pakistan’s National Assembly said in a post on social media platform X.
It added that Jaishankar introduced himself to Sadiq during the brief interaction. India has not commented publicly on the exchange.
“It is noteworthy that Pakistan has consistently emphasized dialogue, restraint, and cooperative measures, including proposals for peace talks,” the post continued.
Tensions between the two neighbors escalated in April after a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir killed more than 20 tourists. New Delhi blamed Pakistan for supporting the attack, an allegation Islamabad denied, calling instead for an independent and transparent investigation.
Officials from both countries have largely avoided public interactions since the conflict, with senior figures refraining from handshakes or exchanges at international gatherings.
Sadiq was in Dhaka to attend Zia’s funeral and to convey condolences from Pakistan’s leadership and people. He also met Zia’s son Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, according to Pakistan’s high commission in Bangladesh.
Speaking to Pakistan’s Geo TV, Sadiq confirmed that Jaishankar approached him in full media glare and exchanged pleasantries.
Responding to a question about being photographed with the Indian minister, he said: “Cameras arrived with them. Our people took the photographs later.”
