Pakistan H C reiterates pledges made by PM Imran Khan to enhance ties with Sri Lanka

High Commissioner Maj. Gen. Muhammad Saad Khattak and Deputy High Commissioner Tanvir Ahmad at the press briefing held at the High Commission (pic by Nimal Dayaratne)

By Ifham Nizam

The Pakistan High Commission in Colombo yesterday reassured that Pakistan would strengthen and enhance ties between the two countries as spelt out by their Prime Minister Imran Khan during his recent visit to Sri Lanka.

Pakistan High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Maj. Gen. (retd.) Muhammad Saad Khattak said Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa would grace the occasion when a high level delegation of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce visits here shortly for a confab.

Speaking to journalists, High Commissioner Khattak stressed that they would shift policies of geopolitics to geo-economics to enhance mutual trade benefits and bilateral trade, he added.  

He recalled that the Pakistan Prime Minister had promised to find ways and means of promoting trade and connectivity with Sri Lanka, focusing on economics, social and academic ties.

The High Commissioner also said that rather than focusing on religious tourism alone there were plenty of others areas to explore.

Answering queries on Pakistan’s relief assistance to the people affected by floods, torrential rains, landslides and the Covid-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka, the High Commissioner said he had visited Anuradhapura, Kilinochchi, Arugam Bay and distributed dry rations among the affected families. 

The High Commissioner said they would also focus on infrastructure development and poverty alleviation programmes in the affected areas.

Some people were not aware of the offers when it came to education and economic development, the envoy noted, adding that about 1,000 scholarships were on offer for Sri Lankans and 100 for medicine.