Pakistan-Bahrain ties growing stronger: Ambassador

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

I am pleased to convey heartfelt greetings to Pakistanis in Bahrain on the Independence Day of our beloved country, Pakistan. On this day in 1947, Pakistan emerged on the World Map as a sovereign state after the untiring efforts of our nation under the visionary leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Pakistan is blessed with tall mountains, lush green valleys, freshwater natural springs and rivers, plateaus, fertile plain farmlands, deserts, and pristine beaches. With a population of over 220 million, Pakistan has a unique strategic location with natural resources like gold, copper, semiprecious stones, and hydrocarbons.

The four seasons of Pakistan make it suitable to grow almost every type of fruit, vegetable, and food grain. Pakistan is blessed with a talented human resource that has proven its worth the world over.

Pakistan’s unique geo-strategic location at the confluence of South Asia, Central Asia, West Asia, and Northern China, makes it a natural regional economic hub and energy corridor. Pakistan is connected to Western China through the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) under Belt and Road Initiative.

With an outlay of more than US$ 62 billion under CPEC, huge investments are underway in infrastructural projects. CPEC provides many investment opportunities for businesses and investors from friendly countries. In this regard, we are very keen to work closely with Bahrain and other regional countries.

The Government of Prime Minister Imran has undertaken transformational and infrastructural reforms to facilitate investors and ensure Ease of Doing Business. World Bank in its Annual Report on ‘Doing Business 2020’ has ranked Pakistan, among the ‘most improved economies’ in Ease of Doing Business in the world and elevated its position by 28 places.

A pro-business investment policy ensures 100% equity ownership, full repatriation of capital, tax breaks, and customs duty concessions on the import of plant, machinery, and raw materials. Pakistan and Bahrain enjoy a long history of friendship and cooperation for mutual benefit.

The two help each other in different areas of mutual interest and closely consult each other at the international fora. The friendship between our two nations is exemplary and going from strength to strength. The Prime Minister of Pakistan paid a state visit to Bahrain on 16 December 2019 as a Guest of Honour on the National Day of Bahrain.

He came on the special invitation of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi visited Bahrain on 28 July to co-chair the Joint Ministerial Commission meeting. Now the Government and people of Pakistan look forward to welcoming His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in Pakistan.

Pakistan International Airline and Gulf Air are operating flights to almost all major cities of Pakistan to boost our fraternal relations and extensive interaction between our two nations. To bring our people further closer, the Government of Pakistan has extended visa on arrival facilities to citizens of Bahrain.

The tourism sector of Pakistan is steadily opening after easing the COVID-19 situation, and I welcome Bahraini friends to explore the scenic beauty and hospitality of our country. The Pakistani community in Bahrain is at the heart of our strong bilateral ties. Pakistanis in Bahrain are recognized as loyal, law-abiding, hardworking, and friendly people. They are our goodwill ambassadors and source of pride.

They are contributing to the well-being of people here and back home. We are thankful to the Government of Bahrain for extending extraordinary support to Pakistani workers during challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the Ambassador of Pakistan and a friend of Bahrain, it will be my mission to work with my Bahraini colleagues to transform the close friendly ties into a mutually beneficial economic partnership.

I wish the people of Bahrain and Pakistan continued peace, progress, and prosperity on this special day. May Pakistan and Bahrain’s friendship live long!