Nepal and Pakistan established Diplomatic Relations in 1960. What is your say about 53 years of diplomatic relationship between the two countries?

 Pakistan and Nepal enjoy warm and friendly relations. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Nepal in 1960, our bilateral relations have remained very good and are based on mutual respect, trust and understanding. This relationship is governed by mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and noninterference in internal affairs. Our two countries are cooperating closely in a number of sectors of mutual interest.  Pakistan and Nepal have also worked together at regional and multilateral levels. On numerous occasions we have supported each other’s candidatures in the United Nations and other international organisations. Besides, the people of Pakistan hold Nepali people in very high esteem because of their multifarious talents. I am confident that in the years ahead, this relationship will strengthen further.

 

Could you please highlight Pakistan’s present priorities in Nepal? 

 Pakistan is mainly focused on developing mutually beneficial cooperation with Nepal. We therefore give priority to our efforts in further promoting our relations in trade and commerce, education and healthcare sectors. 

 

As South Asian countries, how do you see the prospect of import – export business between Nepal and Pakistan? 

Pakistan and Nepal enjoy very good political relations. However, the economic content of the relationship has never reached its potential. Nepal’s landlocked status is an important factor that has not allowed bilateral economic relations to achieve their true potential. However, I have firm belief that private sectors of both our countries have the capacity to carry forward the economic relationship. We are convinced that there is a need for more interaction among businessmen of both countries. Regular exchange of visits of business delegations from our two countries should be actively encouraged. The Nepal-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry is already on ground and provides the requisite mechanism to enhance economic and commercial relations between the two countries. Additionally, Pakistan’s trade fairs in Nepal, the ‘Made in Pakistan’ Expo has made a good mark in Kathmandu. We need to encourage such trade fairs in the two countries. 

 

Tourism is one of the important sectors in Nepal’s economy. Are there any possibilities where both countries can tie up for the development of the tourism sector? 

Pakistan and Nepal already have an agreement for cooperation in tourism and as per this agreement, tourism organisations and tour operators of both countries need to establish contact with each other while concentrating on exploring possibilities of joint collaboration for investment in tourism sector. Both Nepal and Pakistan are home to rich cultural heritage. We have the highest peaks in the world. There are ample opportunities for undertaking adventure-related tourism. We need to attract tourists by giving them special concessional packages and other facilities.  

 

What are the possible areas where Nepal and Pakistan may have joint ventures? 

I would like to mention here that currently the 6th Ministerial Meeting of Nepal-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission is in progress in Pakistan. A high level Nepalese delegation headed by Finance Minister Mr. Shankar Prasad Koirala is in Pakistan. This delegation comprises of senior officers from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of the Ministers, Ministries of Commerce, Finance and Foreign Affairs. This session of Nepal-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission is being held after a gap of eight years.  Other areas of focus of this meeting are to look for avenues for joint ventures between the two countries in the fields of agriculture, tourism, education and healthcare.

 

Could you please highlight current assistance from Pakistan to Nepal? 

Under our Cultural Agreement, Pakistan has been consistently providing educational facilities, training and scholarships to Nepalese students in multiple fields which are helping Nepal to build its human resource. Pakistan trained Nepalese pilots and aeronautical engineers had formed the back bone of Nepal aviation. Pakistan has also been gifting medical equipment to different hospitals of Nepal and has trained young Nepalese diplomats and bankers. I would like to mention here that Pakistan was pivotal in building the Bharatpur Eye Hospital which is catering to the needs of 1.5 million people. Joint venture between Habib Bank and Himalayan Bank is a success story. Pakistan would always continue to help Nepal for its social and economic development.  

 

What can be done to enhance people-to-people relations between Nepal and Pakistan? 

The Pakistan Embassy in Kathmandu is providing scholarships to more than 100 Nepalese students every year at secondary and higher secondary levels. Study tours of Nepalese students to Pakistan and also that of media representatives is an annual feature of our relationship. The Pakistan Embassy in Kathmandu organises an essay writing competition every year for Nepalese students and their efforts are encouraged by giving them stipends. Nepalese love for Pakistani music has further strengthened the relations between the two countries. The Pakistan Embassy has been regularly organising musical programmes in Kathmandu.  

 

Stalwarts of Pakistani world music like late Mehdi Hassan, Ghulam Ali, Abida Parveen have often put up their shows by visiting Nepal in these musical programmes. An unforgettable moment in Nepal and Pakistan’s cultural relations was witnessed when legendry Pakistan ghazal singer, late Mehdi Hassan was offered the royal salute of 21 gun shots at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu. Previously, the Urdu Chair at Tribhuvan University had also played a significant role in bridging cultural gaps between the two countries. Lately, literary work of renowned Pakistani Urdu writer, Firdus Haider has been translated to Nepali with the title ‘Dhunga Mero Khoj’ by Gayatri Bista.  These programmes are helping to enhance the people-to-people relations between the two countries.