Suggestions for ‘Look Africa’ policy discussed

Former ambassador shares importance of cultural ties with South Africa

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan must take concrete measures to materialise the recently announced ‘Look Africa’ policy in real terms, said Ambassador (retd) Najam-us-Saqib, former Pakistan’s envoy to South Africa, Brazil, Kenya, Bangladesh and Cuba, at a webinar titled ‘Pakistan's relations with Southern African countries’ held at Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) in Islamabad on Wednesday.

The session was chaired by IPS Chairman Khalid Rahman and attended by many foreign policy analysts and researchers digitally.

Commenting on Pakistan’s bilateral relations with South Africa, the former ambassador said that Pakistan enjoys strong ties with it, especially defence cooperation as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) from both countries visit each other regularly.

However, he rued that bilateral trade volume between both countries stands at a meagre USD600 million while no Pakistani head of state has paid a visit there in the last 15 years, except for former president Mamnoon Hussain, who went there to attend the last rites of the late Nelson Mandela.

The ambassador also emphasised resuming direct flights from South Africa to Pakistan and opening of banking channels as no Pakistani bank operates in South Africa. He further suggested promoting Pakistani films and dramas and organising cultural events in South Africa to bolster cultural ties.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th, 2021.