On March 17, St Patrick’s Day will be celebrated the world over by many millions of people of Irish descent. In Karachi, too, the legacy of St Patrick is felt strongly through institutions and people. The St Patrick’s High School in the city caters to hundreds of students each day and has produced many illustrious alumni who have contributed to Pakistani society through service in politics, business, education, religion and the military. In the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Clifton, two religious sisters from Ireland maintain that the personal tie between Karachi and St Patrick first started more than 150 years ago. Sr Berchmans and Sr Mary have between them over 90 years of teaching experience in Pakistan and have taught thousands of Pakistani women and girls in Karachi, Lahore, Sialkot and Murree. That commitment to Pakistan has been praised by the Government of Pakistan and on March 23, the Governor of Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, will bestow Pakistan’s highest civilian honour on Sr Berchmans for her 59 years of service to the people of Pakistan.
In the 21st century, the links are not only being maintained, but are growing. Recently, we hosted the first business delegation from Invest Northern Ireland to visit Pakistan. This has led to a further deepening of the relationship, with several return trips from Pakistan to Belfast having already occurred with many joint-ventures under discussion. These links between Northern Ireland and Pakistan are striking because both areas faced difficulties in overcoming negative perceptions caused by violence, which was always given a disproportionate prominence in the media.
As Director of UK Trade and Investment in Pakistan, one of the biggest hurdles I face in selling opportunities is trying to overcome the negative perceptions of insecurity here and to encourage UK firms to come to Pakistan to develop links. But, I am confident that we are turning a corner and the presence of Invest Northern Ireland — which is keen to open up new markets and attract foreign direct investment from Pakistan to Northern Ireland — is further evidence of the growing importance of trade between our two countries. Next month, we will see the opening of Pakistan’s first department store here in Karachi, with the arrival of Debenhams and later this week, we will see the opening of Crabtree and Evelyn’s first store in Pakistan. All of these links are being highlighted in our Celebrating Connections campaign, promoting the strong bonds between the UK and Pakistan.
Today, trade in goods and services between Pakistan and the UK, stands at just over two billion pounds. The UK is also one of the largest foreign investors in Pakistan, and there are many UK companies keen to develop and deepen commercial and trading ties between our two states. There are over 100 well-known UK companies in Pakistan enjoying a strong presence across many sectors. But we want to do more and to see more trade between Pakistan and the UK. Our two prime ministers agreed in February 2011 that we would increase bilateral trade to £2.5billion by 2015.
To do that we need to rediscover some of the links that bind our two countries as this can be mutually beneficial for both societies. Pakistan and the UK share a unique history and as we approach the celebration of St Patrick’s Day, we can look forward to forging stronger ties.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2012.
COMMENTS (6)
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We irish don't like these pakistanis.
A good read.. It is always good to read about positive relationships between Pakistan and other countries.. Really tired of all the negativity about our region specifically Paksitan, Iran and Afghanistan.. While the leaders of our country and the rest of the world play war games, manupilating the lives of ordinary people.. they forget that we are all human beings, and just want to live freely with a sense of peace and security..
Indeed trade must be appreciated and I hope and pray that these ties extend eternally for socioeconomic development of human beings on both sides.
I was most lucky to have attended the Catholic School in Lahore, Pakistan that prepared me for the future as a Professor in the US. Last year I went to the Republic of Ireland, and was amazed at the training of teachers by the Brothers who would graduate and go on to teach in former colonial nations. The education we received was comprehensive, for we read Shakespeare from third grade, poetry, history, and philosophy, plus our school had a better library than the entire state of Punjab. The gift of knowledge is something the Irish have given us for centuries.
Francis, I'm all for strengthening ties between Northern Ireland and Pakistan but to be honest the £2.5billion figure is insulting. We should be talking double digits or triple digits in billions not £2.5billion by 2015. Strengthening ties, to me, is allowing free trade between the two countries. Making it easier for me to do business in Northern Ireland, eliminating tariffs or giving better access to capital markets. £2.5billion by 2015 is very low on ambition.
In any case, I wish you and your family, and everyone in Northern Ireland, and by proxy all Irishmen, a very happy St. Patrick’s Day.
Sadly such posts do not get much comments because people are more interested in debating religion and politics, two things that have wrecked this nation. But I am glad that developed countries in the west are making efforts to help Pakistan.
Finding common grounds will help move us forward and there is nothing more that can build relations than a common bond between two groups of people.
Have a happy St Patrick’s Day.