ISLAMABAD: A 12-member delegation led by African Union Acting Chairman and President Djibouti National Parliament Muhammad Ali Houmed is arriving in Islamabad today on Tuesday.
According to a press release of the Senate of Pakistan, the Navel Chief of Djibouti will also accompany the high-level African Parliamentary delegation besides having representation of the lawmakers.
The delegation is visiting Pakistan on the invitation of Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani. It also hold meeting with President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
It will also meet Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Speaker National Assembly Asad Qasier, Navel Chief and President Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Besides meeting top military and political office bearers in Pakistan, the delegation will also visit different parts of the country.
Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani said this visit of the high-powered delegation is of utmost importance to strengthen parliamentary relations between Pakistan and African Parliaments.
“The visit is of vital importance for the longstanding relationship between Pakistan and the African countries,” he said, adding that strengthening parliamentary relations would pave way for strong trade ties between the two sides.
Speaking regarding trade ties with African countries, Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood has said that Pakistan’s trade with African countries has reached $4.18 billion in 2019-20.
Dawood said that Pakistan’s total trade with Africa has increased from $3.19 billion in 2016-17 to $4.18 billion in 2019-20. He said exports to Africa increased by seven percent as a result of Pakistan’s new engagement with African countries through the “Look Africa Campaign”.
The advisor said Pakistan will participate in the International Khartoum Fair next month for the first time. He said that the Ministry of Commerce has also organized Pakistan-Africa Trade Development Conference in Nairobi, Kenya next month.
