ISLAMABAD – Bangladesh High Commissioner Suhrab Hossain called on Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani at the PM House, and extended request for cooperation in counsel’s matters in Afghanistan as Bangladesh did not have a diplomatic mission there.
Prime Minister Gilani assured the envoy that every possible assistance would be extended to Bangladesh through Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul. Pakistan considers Bangladesh more a brother than a friend given the commonalities of religion, history and culture, he said.
He expressed his keen desire to build upon on the groundswell of goodwill existing for each other on both sides to move ahead in the bilateral relations. The prime minister stressed the need that the implementation of existing memoranda of understanding and agreements between the two countries should be pursued proactively through concerted efforts of both sides.
Gilani said that the bilateral cooperation should be expanded in multi-ferrous fields through enhanced people to people contacts not only at the highest and political level but also at the level of academia, cultural personalities and business delegations.
Responding to envoy’s suggestion for further expansion of bilateral trade, he stated that Pakistan was keen to start direct shipping links between Karachi and Chitagong, opening of bank branches in each others’ countries and setting up of the warehouses to increase the volume of trade to the level agreed in 2005.
The prime minister also hoped that Bangladesh would extend its unconditional support to EU’s trade concession package for WTO waiver for Pakistan in Geneva. He assured full support of his government to the high commissioner in discharge of his duties and accomplishment of his mission.
