Li Keiqang’s visit: In a slip-up, CDA sends invoice to China mission

Diplomatic protocol dictates that the costs of a state visit are borne by the host country.

ISLAMABAD:

In a gross violation of diplomatic protocol, the Capital Development Authority unknowingly sent a Rs1.4 million invoice to the Chinese Embassy for using the Pak-China Friendship Centre to host Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday, The Express Tribune has learnt.

As per diplomatic protocol, the costs of a state visit are borne by the treasury of the host country.

The Chinese premier, who was on a two-day state visit to Pakistan, attended a cultural event at the facility along with caretaker Prime Minister Justice (retd) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso.

A source said the junior-level staff of CDA sent the invoice to the Chinese Embassy, but it was later withdrawn along with an apology, terming it a “clerical mistake”.

When contacted, Naimatullah Khan, coordinator of the Pak-China Friendship Centre naively remarked, “We have sent the invoice directly to the Chinese Embassy and a copy of it to the Foreign Office.”

Islamabad’s civic agency runs the affairs of the Pak-China Friendship Centre, which was inaugurated in 2010 by China’s former premier Wen Jiabao and Pakistani premier Yousaf Raza Gilani. The facility was gifted by the Chinese government in commemoration of the strong relations between the Chinese and Pakistanis.



Khan, who was apparently unaware of the diplomatic protocol, added that though Beijing gifted the facility, the Chinese directed them to charge a fixed rent from everyone without any exception. “We usually charge the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan in case they hold any function at the Pak-China Friendship Centre.”

However, CDA member Sanaullah Aman said, “I am unaware about any such development. Definitely, CDA was supposed to send the invoice directly to the Foreign Office alone. It was a state visit so the Pakistani government will bear the expenses.”

Aman claimed it was possible that lower-level staff of the centre sent the invoice to the embassy without knowing the protocol. “I will look into the matter and strong disciplinary action will be taken against those responsible.”

Aman said if true, it was done without his permission.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Hong Lei said on Thursday he did not have any knowledge about receiving the invoice and would contact the concerned official at the embassy to inform him about the development. He was contacted again on Friday but gave the same answer.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2013.