Islamabad, August 10, 2021 (PPI-OT):President Dr Arif Alvi has said that Pakistan attaches great importance to its brotherly relations with Niger and wants to further broaden the scope of cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. He said that both countries enjoyed excellent relations and had unanimity of opinion on various issues at the international fora.
He made these remarks while talking to the visiting Speaker of the National Assembly of Niger, Mr Seyni Oumarou, who along with members of his delegation, called on the President, at Aiwan-e-Sadr, today. Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Mr Asad Qaiser, also attended the meeting. Welcoming the President of the National Assembly of Niger, President Arif Alvi said that the entire scope of bilateral cooperation between the two countries needed to be further augmented through the regular exchange of political, parliamentary and commercial delegations.
He conveyed to the visiting dignitary that Pakistan would provide 100 scholarships for students of Niger in 2021-22. He said that Pakistan accorded great significance to its ties with Niger under its “Look Africa” policy and wished to sign a Preferential Trade Agreement with Niger that would help enhance economic and business cooperation between the two countries. Welcoming the recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Parliamentary Cooperation, the President expressed the hope that the MoU would bring the two countries further closer.
He added that Pakistan was focusing on reforming and developing its health, education and agriculture sectors to put the country on the development path. Mr Seyni Oumarou said that relations between the two countries were based on brotherhood that needed to be further cemented for the mutual benefit of the two sides.
He underlined the need for transforming the existing relations into more robust economic and business cooperation between the two countries. Mr Seyni Oumarou sought Pakistan’s help and expertise in developing the irrigation system of his country to meet its food requirements. President Dr Arif Alvi said that Pakistan would help Niger, in this regard, by sharing its experiences and expertise with her in the agriculture and irrigation sectors.
The Speaker of the National Assembly of Niger thanked the Government of Pakistan for offering scholarships to students of Niger. He also invited the President to visit Niger to further boost bilateral relations. He expressed his gratitude to the Government of Pakistan for extending a warm welcome and hospitality to him and the members of his delegation during their stay in Pakistan.
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