ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday directed the relevant authorities of different ministries to formulate concrete proposals to enhance relations with Indonesia in different sectors.

He chaired a high-level meeting in preparation for the first three-day official visit of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to Pakistan from Jan 26. Senior officials from the Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Secretary of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) attended the meeting, while Pakistan’s Ambassador to Indonesia joined via video link.

The minister emphasised the need for strategically targetting the Indonesian market to showcase Pakistani products effectively and foster stronger ties between the people of the two countries.

He stressed the importance of promoting collaboration in education, health, IT, and tourism, suggesting the provision of scholarships in IT and healthcare sectors for students from both countries to facilitate mutual learning and capacity building.

Lauding Indonesia’s cultural diversity, Ahsan Iqbal remarked: “Indonesia has successfully integrated its cultural diversity into a unified identity. We can learn from their model.”

He also appreciated Indonesia’s exemplary Haj management and suggested leveraging their expertise to improve Pakistan’s pilgrimage arrangements.

The participants deliberated on proposals to strengthen cooperation and boost trade between the two countries in various sectors.

Highlighting the significance of the Indonesian President’s visit, Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal said: “This landmark visit will open new avenues for trade and cooperation, further strengthening bilateral relations between Pakistan and Indonesia.”

The minister instructed the ministries concernedto finalise all proposals and actions ahead of the Indonesian president’s visit to ensure meaningful outcomes.

This visit marks a significant milestone in strengthening economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties between the two nations.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2025