ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood received the Niger’s Ministers for Industry and Investment Gado Sabo Moctar and Zakari Wargo Boubacar at the Foreign Office in Islamabad on Friday.
During the meeting, wide-ranging discussions were held on Pakistan-Niger bilateral relations and issues of common interest.
The foreign secretary expressed satisfaction at the close brotherly ties between the two Countries, marked by common faith, the convergence of views, and shared perspectives.
On behalf of Pakistan’s leadership and the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the foreign secretary extended cordial greetings to the newly elected President and the people of Niger and congratulated the delegation on the historic democratic transition of power.
Underling Pakistan’s resolve to deepen and broaden Pakistan-Niger fraternal cooperation in all dimensions, the foreign secretary stressed the importance of regular exchanges at the leadership, ministerial, business and people-to-people levels.
The foreign secretary expressed gratitude to the government of Niger for its support at the 47th Session of Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Niamy, for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK).
Sohail Mahmood also thanked Niger for its contributions as member of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir.
Highlighting the ‘Engage Africa’ initiative guided by Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision, the foreign secretary underscored Pakistan’s efforts to deepen cooperation with the African Continent underpinned by enhanced diplomatic footprint and economic and commercial engagement.
Both sides expressed satisfaction on the signing of bilateral agreements for supplying Pakistani Tractors, Motorcycles, Pharmaceuticals, Seeds, and Pesticides.
The Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood expressed the hope that the delegation’s visit to Pakistan would provide a basis to further reinforce an already growing Pakistan-Niger economic partnership.
The delegation is on a weeklong visit to Pakistan (visiting Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi) to have interactions with Ministers, senior officials and business enterprises.
This is the first visit by a Niger ministerial delegation to Pakistan since the new government assumed office in Niamey in April 2021.
