Ambassador: Belarus-Pakistan cooperation is based on mutual respect

The Pakistan Embassy in Minsk has held a reception to mark the 84th Pakistan Day and the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Belarus-Pakistan diplomatic relations.

The function was attended by more than 250 guests, including ambassadors, government officials, journalists and members of the Pakistani diaspora.

Reflecting on the history of his country's independence, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Pakistan to Belarus Sajjad Haider Khan paid tribute to the founding fathers of Pakistan, especially Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, whose leadership helped Pakistan gain independence on 14 August 1947.

Ambassador Khan pointed out that Pakistan is the world’s second largest Muslim country with a population of 240 million and a powerful economy with a purchasing power parity of $1.283 trillion. Pakistan’s 10 million expatriates, whose annual remittances are estimated at around $30 billion, are also an important factor in the country's socio-economic development.

The diplomat reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to the principles of equality, justice and non-alignment as enshrined in the UN Charter. He highlighted Pakistan’s active participation in multilateral and regional organizations promoting peace, cooperation and regional development.

Speaking about bilateral relations between Pakistan and Belarus, Ambassador Khan noted that over the past three decades, respect and cooperation have been at the core of  bilateral relations. Important agreements, including the abolition of visas for diplomatic and service passport holders, as well as more than 80 other memorandums and agreements, have laid the foundation for promoting cooperation across the board.

The ambassador also touched upon cooperation in movie-making, art, music, sports and education. The program to celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations will be quite extensive. It will include book launches, cultural festivals, art exhibitions and music concerts.

Belarus’ Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich warmly congratulated Pakistan on its National Day (celebrated on 23 March) and highlighted the important milestones achieved by Pakistan since the adoption of the Lahore Resolution in 1940. He noted that Pakistan has become a respected global player and that bilateral relations strengthened over the past 30 years.

One of the highlights of the event was the performance of Pakistani national songs by Belarusian students.

The ambassador thanked the Belarusian government for its continued support and  expressed confidence that bilateral relations will grow even stronger in the coming years.