ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb hoped the removal of US sanctions on Syria would help open bilateral trade and investment opportunities in the country, the Finance Division said on Thursday.
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in June to dismantle a web of sanctions against Syria more than six months after the overthrow of Bashar Assad. Syria welcomed the move, saying it would likely unlock investments for the conflict-hit country. The Syrian government had been under heavy US financial penalties that predated the outbreak of a civil war in the country in 2011.
Dr. Ramez Alraee, Syria’s ambassador to Pakistan, called on Aurangzeb at the Finance Division to discuss matters of mutual interest, the finance ministry said. Talks focused on further strengthening longstanding fraternal ties between Pakistan and Syria and exploring avenues for enhanced bilateral cooperation.
“Welcoming the Ambassador, the Finance Minister appreciated the improving situation in Syria and the gradual return to normalcy,” the Finance Division said. “He expressed the hope that the removal of sanctions by the United States would help Syria reintegrate into the international system and open up opportunities for investment and bilateral trade.”
The Pakistani minister assured Dr. Alraee of Islamabad’s “full support” in every way, noting that the people of both countries share bonds of affection and empathy.
The Syrian ambassador thanked Pakistan for extending diplomatic support following Israel’s airstrikes targeting the Middle Eastern country in June, the Finance Division said. He thanked Islamabad for sending humanitarian aid for Syria following the 2023 earthquake which wreaked havoc in the Middle Eastern country and Turkiye.
“Ambassador Alraee reaffirmed his commitment to promoting bilateral trade and commerce between the two countries and emphasized the importance of facilitating exchanges of official and business delegations to further strengthen economic and people-to-people ties,” the Finance Division said.
Like it does with most Middle Eastern countries, Pakistan enjoys close relations with Syria rooted in shared faith and culture. Pakistan and Syria formally established bilateral relations in December 1949.
