LAHORE: Norwegian Ambassador to Pakistan Leif H Larsen has called for increasing economic cooperation between the two countries, expressing concerns at the present low trade volume between them.

He was talking to Dawn at a ceremony held for appointing honorary consul Ms Naveen Fareed here on Thursday.

Her father, Humayun Fareed, is also honorary consul of Bangladesh, and her brother of the Philippines’.

A large number of diplomats from various countries, Punjab Education Minister Rana Mashhood, PML-N media coordinator Muhammad Mehdi, ex-foreign secretary Shamshad Ahmed Khan, and others were present on the occasion.

Pakistanis are the third largest community in Norway. Laila Bukhari, a Pakistani origin woman, is holding a slot in the Norwegian cabinet.

Mr Larsen lauded the role the Pakistani community is playing in economic and cultural development of Norway.

He said the posting of Ms Fareed was aimed at enhancing contacts between businessmen of both the countries.

He said his country was extending technical and financial cooperation in renovation of Masjid Wazir Khan and Shahi Hamam as well as helping various institutions working on peace and culture.

Responding to a query, he said funding to a known NGO in media sector was stopped for inappropriate use of the financial help and the NGO could not justify the expenses.

Mr Mehdi told the envoy that Pakistan was not only succeeding against terrorists through Zarb-i-Azb but it also achieved 4 per cent economic growth rate after a long period of slump. He said the incumbent government was trying to take the growth rate to 7pc by 2018.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2015

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