VATICAN: Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain attended the funeral ceremony of Pope Francis in Vatican City, representing Pakistan at the significant event on Saturday.

The ceremony, lasting two hours, drew leaders from across the globe and was witnessed by approximately 250,000 attendees at the Vatican.

During the event, Chaudhry Salik Hussain engaged in discussions with various leaders, including former U.S. President Joe Biden, who reminisced about his 2008 visit to Lahore as a Senator.

In another notable interaction, the Minister met with the President of FIFA. The FIFA President acknowledged Pakistan’s tradition of producing high-quality footballs and shared plans to promote the sport in the country, expressing enthusiasm about a visit to Pakistan.

The Minister also conducted a bilateral meeting with Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the Interim Government of Bangladesh. The discussion focused on enhancing bilateral relations and exploring cooperation for peace and security in the region.

Additionally, Chaudhry Salik Hussain met Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarik Al Nahyan, Minister for Tolerance of the UAE, and ministers from Russia, Singapore, and Malaysia.

After attending the funeral, the Minister visited the Embassy of Pakistan in Italy. He reviewed consular services offered to overseas Pakistanis, receiving updates on initiatives aimed at enhancing these services. He expressed satisfaction with the efforts made to establish direct connections with the Pakistani diaspora in Italy, which numbers 300,000.

This visit marked Chaudhry Salik Hussain’s first to a Pakistani Mission since the Overseas Convention held in Islamabad.