ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bangladesh have enormous opportunities to increase cooperation in the areas of trade, economy, culture, health, education, and people-to-people linkages for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

This was stated at a meeting between acting President Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Pakistan Mohammad Iqbal Hussain Khan who called on him at Aiwan-i-Sadr on Saturday.

During the meeting, it was emphasised to improve air linkages and shipping connections between Pakistan and Bangladesh to enhance bilateral trade as well as increase people-to-people linkages.

The acting president said that there was great potential to enhance education, health, agriculture and cultural cooperation between the two countries. He called for making efforts to further increase people-to-people and cultural exchanges to bring the two countries closer.

He expressed satisfaction that an MoU on the supply of white rice from Pakistan to Bangladesh had been signed which would help increase bilateral trade.

He said that Pakistan greatly valued its relations with Bangladesh which were based on common faith, shared history and cultural similarities.

He remarked that the Chief Adviser of the government of Bangladesh Professor Mohammad Yunus was widely respected in Pakistan for his path-breaking work in the field of micro-finance and social development.

The high commissioner highlighted the potential of increasing relations in the area of health and tourism. He said Bangladeshi students were also interested in getting higher education in Pakistani universities.

Meanwhile, the acting president affirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further boosting cooperation with the Czech Republic in areas of mutual interest.

He said both countries needed to explore greater cooperation in the areas of trade, renewable energy, business and investment, health, parliamentary cooperation, education and people-to-people linkages.

Mr Gilani was talking to the ambassador of the Czech Republic to Pakistan Ladislav Steinhubel.

He said that Pakistan attached great importance to its relations with the Czech Republic, and both countries enjoyed long-standing ties and held common views at various international fora.

He stated that Czech businesses should visit Pakistan to explore investment opportunities, adding that trade between Pakistan and the Czech Republic needed to be increased to its fullest potential.

He emphasised the need to further deepen bilateral engagement in the areas of economy, culture, and people-to-people contacts.

He also urged the need for easing the visa regime for Pakistani students wanting to study in Czech universities to enhance educational cooperation between the two countries.

He also appreciated the support of the Czech Republic for Pakistan’s candidature for the non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for 2025-26.

The ambassador of the Czech Republic said that his country wanted to expand cooperation with Pakistan in trade, business, health and energy sectors.

He expressed interest in exporting Pakistani mangoes to the Czech Republic.

The ambassador said the prime minister of the Czech Republic would visit Islamabad in May 2025.

The acting president said Pakistan looked forward to welcoming the Czech prime minister and expressed confidence that the visit would help in further enhancing cooperation between the two countries.

The ambassador also offered condolences over the loss of lives in the recent terrorist attack on Jaffar Express.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2025