ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: President Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday said the government was committed to further expanding and deepening mutually beneficial relationship between Pakistan and Italy especially in the economic and commercial spheres.
Pakistan has recently announced a new automobile policy to diversify its automobile industry in which Italian car maker Fiat and motorcycle maker Piaggo may consider venturing into Pakistan’s lucrative market, he added.
The President said this during a meeting with Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Paolo Gentiloni, who called on him here at Aiwan-e-Sadr.
The President noted that Italy was Pakistan’s third largest trading partner in Europe and among the top 10 globally and urged for encouraging Italian entrepreneurs to do business with Pakistan.
He emphasized that there was immense potential for expanding bilateral trade and appreciated the support and cooperation extended by Italian side in organizing “Pakistan Trade and Investment Forum” in April 2016.
The President expressed Pakistan’s strong resolve to eliminate terrorism. The country, he added, had been the biggest victim of this scourge and had sacrificed 60,000 lives and suffered economic losses of over $ 100 billion.
He emphasized that the Operation Zarb-e-Azb would continue till elimination of the last terrorist. Terrorism was now a global problem, he added and urged for joint efforts in eliminating the menace.
The President said Pakistan was making sincere efforts to facilitate dialogue between the Taliban and the Afghan Government for peace in Afghanistan, hoping that the efforts of the Quadrilateral Group would soon bear positive results.
He remarked that peace in Afghanistan would ensure peace in the whole region.
He said the minorities in Pakistan were enjoying equal status and the country’s Constitution made no discrimination against them.
The President referred to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s speech in which he had categorically said that all minorities would enjoy equal rights in the country as Pakistanis.
He said that the large number of Pakistanis living in Italy were serving as a bridge in furtherance of friendly relations between Italy and Pakistan.
He highlighted that Pakistan and Italy had commonality of views on number of regional and global issues, particularly on the issues of terrorism and UN Security Council Reform process. Pakistan, he added, would continue to work closely with Italy on all issues of mutual interest.
The President lauded the role of Italy in the EU on grant of greater market access to Pakistan noting that Pakistan was positive that Italy would continue to support it in the on-going GSP Plus review process in the EU.
He noted that being the members of the Uniting for Consensus (UfC) Group, Italy and Pakistan worked closely on the issue of Security Council reform.
Speaking on the occasion, Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said that his country accorded high importance to its relations with Pakistan and agreed on the need to increase the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries to fully realize the existing potential in the energy, agriculture, food processing and automotive sectors.
He appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in the fight against terrorism and stressed on the need to jointly combat this common challenge.
Paolo Gentiloni also appreciated the positive role and contribution of the Pakistani community living in Italy.
Source: APP
