BUCHAREST: Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi Sunday said the strategic partnership between Pakistan and the European Union had entered the next level and Pakistan is determined to enhance ties with European countries.
He was speaking at a reception hosted by him in honour of members of the European Parliament and Parliament of Romania. Pakistan’s ambassador to Romania Dr Zafar Iqbal accompanied the minister.
He said Pakistan was determined to expand economic and trade ties with all member countries of the European Union including Romania. He said Pakistan, an emerging market of more than 200 million people, provides immense opportunities for investment.
Members of Parliament of Romania and the European Parliament welcomed the minister and expressed their desire to promote economic relations with Pakistan.
Later while speaking to the Pakistani community in Romania, the foreign minister said overseas Pakistanis had been given voting rights. Now they would have the opportunity to influence policymaking in Pakistan, he added.
He said he would talk to the Romanian Foreign Minister about giving more facilities to Pakistanis living in Romania. He said one section of Pakistanis was sending its hard-earned money to Pakistan while another one was looting and taking money away from the country.
He said Pakistan would focus on increasing exports to the markets in Europe. He said overseas Pakistanis had opened 300,000 digital accounts and sent $3 billion through them in a short time. The Pakistani diaspora was given facilities so that it could buy houses and cars in Pakistan, he said.
Qureshi said expatriates sent $30 billion to Pakistan, adding Pakistani investors could now repatriate their profits earned in Pakistan and were also given exemptions in taxes and duties. He said there were immense opportunities to expand ties between Pakistan and Romania. He said Pakistan is focusing on increasing exports to European markets.
The foreign minister during his visit to Pakistani embassy in Bucharest also inaugurated the Trade and Cultural Exhibition Hall. The hall will be used for holding exhibitions to display and promote goods imported from Pakistan, encouraging tourism and highlighting soft image of Pakistan.
