ISLAMABAD:
The newly-appointed Higher Commissioner of Mauritius wants to strengthen ties between Pakistan and his country in the fields of information technology, education and health.
Mohammad Rashad Daureeawo said this on Wednesday, while talking to The Express Tribune following the launch of Akhter Hashmi’s “Dharti Ka Taaj”, a book detailing his journey through Mauritius. This is the first book in Urdu on the scenic African island nation.
In his first interaction with the Pakistani media after assuming charge as high commissioner, Daureeawo said, “Pakistan and Mauritius have a Preferential Trade Agreement and there is need to expand it to various fields.”
He added that Pakistan could use Mauritius as gateway for trade with continental Africa.
He appreciated Dr Wajid Ali Khan and his team for signing an agreement to assist Mauritius in enhancing the quality of ophthalmology there. The Ministry of Health, Quality of Life, Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Pakistan Institute of Ophthalmology of Rawalpindi signed the agreement on July 6 to strengthen existing cooperation in the field of ophthalmology for five years.
The high commissioner added that his country is an attractive tourist destination, but the absence of a direct air-link means relatively few Pakistani tourists travel to Mauritius. “We seek collaboration from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for direct flights to Mauritius on a joint operational basis,” he said.
Former Pakistani Ambassador to Mauritius Maj Gen (retd) Muhammad Siddique Malik said Mauritius should be taken as a model country that has progressed significantly in the fields of medicine, IT, tourism and health, while noting that the country has a population of only 1.1 million, but attracts around one million tourists annually. “This is due to the hospitality of the people of Mauritius and the peaceful, tolerant environment,” he added.
“Mauritius is a country where the walls of mosques and temples meet, but the bells of temples never enrage Muslim, nor do prayer calls from mosques provoke the Hindus.” he said, elaborating on tolerance in the society.
Writer Akhter Hashmi said his book will help people learn about the beautiful country and their peaceful people.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 13th, 2012.
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