Islamabad: Four newly designated envoys presented their credentials to President Asif Ali Zardari at a ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Friday. Those who presented their credentials included Tarik Ali Khan, High Commissioner-designate of Canada; Abdulaziz Issa, Ambassador-designate of Republic of Lebanon; Robert-Jan Siegert, Ambassador-designate of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; and David Pine, Non-Resident High Commissioner-designate of New Zealand (based in Colombo).
Upon arrival at the Presidency, the envoys were presented Guard of Honour by a smartly turned-out contingent of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Welcoming the newly accredited envoys, the President congratulated them on their appointments and expressed confidence that their tenures would further strengthen Pakistan's bilateral relations with their countries.
The President highlighted Pakistan's longstanding and friendly relations with Canada, emphasising enhanced economic, trade, and investment cooperation, particularly in the IT, energy and minerals sectors. He noted the importance of people-to-people linkages and lauded the role of the vibrant Pakistani diaspora in Canada in promoting goodwill between the two nations.
In his conversation with the Ambassador of Lebanon, the President reaffirmed Pakistan's deep solidarity with the Government and people of Lebanon, strongly condemning Israel's aggression against civilians. He assured Pakistan's continued support for Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and emphasised the need to enhance bilateral trade, security and counter-terrorism cooperation.
During his meeting with the Ambassador of the Netherlands, the President underscored the importance of further strengthening bilateral ties, especially in trade, investment, agriculture, and education. He appreciated Netherlands' partnership in areas such as water management, climate resilience and sustainable development, and invited greater Dutch investment in Pakistan.
In his interaction with the Non-Resident High Commissioner of New Zealand, the President highlighted the shared Commonwealth heritage and democratic values between the two countries. He underscored the potential for enhanced cooperation in agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and clean energy and expressed appreciation for New Zealand's support for Pakistan's multilateral initiatives.
The President extended his best wishes to all four envoys for a successful and productive tenure, expressing hope that their efforts would lead to stronger bilateral and multilateral partnerships for mutual benefit.
Senator Sherry Rehman, Senator Nadeem Mandviwalla, and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs were also present on the occasion.
Meanwhile Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Pakistan, Ms. Ina Lepel, called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad on Friday.
President Zardari appreciated Germany's longstanding partnership with Pakistan and its continued support in areas of climate action, women empowerment, social protection, and human development. He highlighted the need for expeditious finalization of the Pakistan-Germany Climate Partnership Agreement, noting that both countries share common goals in addressing global climate challenges.
The President welcomed German investments in Pakistan, particularly in the renewable energy, IT, and industrial sectors, and underlined Pakistan's special incentives for foreign investors. He observed that the early establishment of a Pakistan-Germany Chamber of Commerce in Karachi would further deepen trade and economic ties.
Discussing the strategic dialogue between the two countries, the President welcomed Germany's offer to host the 6th Round of Pakistan-Germany Strategic Dialogue later this year, and appreciated the positive trajectory of bilateral cooperation in regional and international fora.
President Zardari also acknowledged Germany's role in facilitating the Afghan relocation programme and lauded the country's continued support for Pakistan's GSP+ status within the European Union.
The German Ambassador informed the President that this is her third posting in Pakistan and her second tenure as Ambassador. She previously served in Pakistan from 2006 to 2009 and from 2015 to 2019.
Matters related to education, skilled labour mobility, and consular matters also came under discussion. The President expressed satisfaction over the increasing number of Pakistani students pursuing higher education in Germany and called for early resolution of delays in family reunion and business visas.
Meanwhile Khurram Jameel, Chief Executive Officer of Siemens Healthineers Pakistan and Afghanistan, called on President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday.
Matters related to enhancing cooperation in healthcare, particularly in medical technology, diagnostics, and digital health solutions came under discussion.
The President appreciated Siemens Healthineers' role in supporting Pakistan's healthcare sector and reaffirmed the government's commitment to promoting innovation and investment in health services. Senator Saleem Mandviwalla was also present during the meeting.