ISLAMABAD: Ethiopia and Pakistan on Friday agreed on the formation of a joint working group (JWG) in order to pursue and collaborate in the education sector.

The formation of the JWG on education collaboration came under discussion during a meeting between Ethiopian ambassador Jemal Beker Abdula and Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Madad Ali Sindhi.

During the meeting, both dignitaries discussed matters of mutual interest, including bilateral cooperation in the education sector, especially in the areas of higher education and vocational training.

On the occasion, the minister said that a ‘joint working group’ would be formulated, which could pave the way for the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries.

The minister emphasised the importance of exchanging expertise and knowledge in the field of vocational and technical training, highlighting the significant benefits that both countries could derive from each other’s experiences.

Ambassador Jemal Beker Abdula welcomed the idea of the formation of a Joint Working Group and stressed the need for exchanging experts’ delegations to advance cooperation in the education sector.

He said his country was keen to boost bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the education sector and would make all-out efforts in this regard.The ambassador also requested the minister to provide scholarships to Ethiopian students in Pakistan’s public sector universities.

“There is a strong connection between the people of Ethiopia and Pakistan,” he said while recalling the 2022 floods in Pakistan, when the Ethiopian doctors, who studied in Pakistani universities, expressed their readiness to support their brothers and sisters in the trying times.

Furthermore, the ambassador invited the minister to visit Ethiopia, which was not only the land of origins but also the land of Hazrat Bilal Habashi and King Nejashi.

The federal minister thanked the ambassador and highlighted the cordial and friendly relations between the two countries that were deeply rooted in shared history and values, including justice, peace, and global development, on equal grounds.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2023