Ambassador Javed Ahmed Umrani had a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Tunisia, H.E Mr. Mohamed Ali Nafti, at his office on 17 September 2024. A letter of Congratulations on his appointment from our Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar was handed over during the meeting.

Ambassador Umrani thanked Tunisian Foreign Minister for this meeting. During the meeting, both sides discussed bilateral relations and exchanged views on issues of regional and global importance. They agreed to enhance bilateral engagement to further strengthen cooperation in political, trade, economic, cultural and education domains. Ambassador highlighted regarding holding of next rounds of talks at the Pakistan-Tunisia existing institutional mechanisms in 2025 such as Joint Commission on Economic, Trade and Technical Matters in Islamabad & Bilateral Political Consultations in Tunis. Tunisian FM to this added that he would love to visit Islamabad when next round of JC will be held.

Ambassador stressed that to boost bilateral trade and economic relations between the two countries, we may increase our focus on frequent exchange of trade delegations to explore all untapped areas of mutual cooperation and work for early conclusion of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). Also briefed that both countries are working to increase educational collaboration through signing of MoUs between public and private sector universities of each side.

Recalling historical and fraternal ties between Pakistan and Tunisia, both sides appreciated cooperation between the two countries at the United Nations, the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other multilateral forums. The Ambassador briefed Tunisian Foreign Minister on the precarious human rights and security situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). To this Tunisian FM shared Tunisia’s standard position and its support for the rights to self-determination of the Kashmiri people at the UNSC and OIC and stressed the need to find a lasting solution for the ongoing war in Gaza , Palestine issue and IIOJK dispute in accordance with the requirements of international law and human rights principles. Ambassador thanked the Foreign Minister for his time and hoped that he may visit Pakistan soon.

Tunis,

September, 2024