The French Embassy in Islamabad hosted a special event to celebrate French National Day, with Federal Minister for Board of Investment, Communications, and Privatization Abdul Aleem Khan serving as the chief guest.
The event was attended by a distinguished gathering of federal ministers, senators, assembly members, diplomats, and prominent political, business, and social figures.
The ambassador of France, Nicolas Galey, welcomed the guests and provided an enlightening overview of the history and significance of the French National Day. He expressed gratitude for the warm relations between Pakistan and France and looked forward to continued collaboration.
In his address, Abdul Aleem Khan highlighted the strong bilateral friendly relations between Pakistan and France. He emphasized the importance of mutual cooperation in various fields, including trade, economy, education, and culture. “Pakistan and France are continuously promoting mutual cooperation in the fields of trade, economy, education, and culture,” he said.
Khan also spoke about the upcoming Olympics in France, which are set to take place later this month. He expressed his pleasure at the participation of Pakistani athletes and others in the global event. “The holding of the Olympic Games in France this month and the participation of athletes and others from Pakistan is a welcome development,” he noted.
Reflecting on last year’s agreement on the bilateral cooperation roadmap, Minister Khan commended the progress made and the strengthening of ties between the two countries. “Last year, the agreement of the two countries on the road map of bilateral cooperation is commendable,” he said.
The minister also underscored the potential for French investment in various sectors of Pakistan's economy. “France can invest in minerals, energy, agriculture, information technology, and defence production in Pakistan,” he suggested.
Minister Khan highlighted the significant presence of the Pakistani diaspora in France, noting that over 125,000 Pakistanis reside in France, with thousands of students pursuing their education there. “There are 125,000 Pakistanis are living in France while thousands of students are studying,” he said, adding that Pakistan values its relations with European countries, including France.
In his closing remarks, Abdul Aleem Khan praised the French people for their historical traditions and relentless pursuit of development. “The people of France, having historically wonderful traditions, are also persistent in their efforts for development,” he concluded.
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