ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani on Tuesday said Pakistan has decided to increase its diplomatic missions in African countries in addition to opening its embassy in Djibouti.

The decision has been taken under “Engage Africa Policy”, he said during a meeting with African Union Parliament acting Chairman and President Djibouti National Parliament Mohamed Ali Houmedat Parliament House.

The Senate chairman said the exchange of parliamentary delegations would steer the agenda for enhanced economic, political and defence cooperation, not only between the Pakistan and Djibouti but also with other African countries.

“Pakistan eyes vibrant interactions to share the experiences in public sector reforms, technical cooperation, infrastructure development and private investment with the African countries.

President of Djibouti National Parliament Mohamed Ali Houmed is leading a 12-member delegation to Pakistan on the invitation of Senate Chairman Mohammad Sadiq Sanjrani.

Chairman Senate appreciated the visit of the National Assembly of Djibouti president to Pakistan during this testing time of Covid-19 and expressed the hope that his visit would strengthen the existing foundation of strong brotherly relations between the two countries and would open new vistas of diplomatic, parliamentary and economic cooperation with the African region.

He further appreciated the role of Djibouti in fostering peace and stability among African nations and sought support for Pakistan to become observer member in Inter Governmental Development Authority (IGAD).

Mr Sanjrani expressed the need to build closer meteorological cooperation between Pakistan and Djibouti to monitor and track the movement of locust infestation in Red Sea, Arabian Sea and Horn of Africa.

He informed the visiting dignitary that Pakistan had been providing training facilities to Djibouti in the fields of diplomacy, banking and railways.

He also apprised about the recent volatile situation in India-held Kashmir following the unconstitutional, illegal and unilateral actions of India to alter its disputed status, which was in contravention of the international laws and United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions which has become a grave humanitarian crisis.

Mr Sanjrani led the Pakistan delegation during the meeting which also included Senators Sajjad Hussain Turi, Mirza Mohammad Afridi, Dr Ghous Mohammad Khan Niazi, Kuhda Babar, Naseeb Ullah Bazai and Secretary Senate Mohammad Qasim Samad Khan.

The parliamentary delegation of Djibouti also held meeting with Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate at Parliament House Islamabad and discussed matters of mutual significance and bilateral importance.

Welcoming the delegation, the committee chairman Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed observed that both the countries were intertwined in social, political and cultural similarities.

He said Pakistan and Djibouti were Muslim countries and their strategic locations enhanced political importance in international arena.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2020