DNA

ISLAMABAD – Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi met Prime Minister Brigi Rafini of Niger today. Foreign Minister Qureshi expressed satisfaction at the close brotherly relations between the two countries, marked by common faith and convergence of views and shared perspectives.

Highlighting the need for expanding economic and commercial ties between the two countries, the Foreign Minister offered to continue assisting Niger through various capacity building programmes. He informed the Prime minister that Pakistan has offered immediate flood relief to the flood affected people.

Foreign Minister reiterated Pakistan’s support for health, education, agriculture, industry, livestock, irrigation, energy and defence. He said that Pakistan is offering scholarships to Nigerien students, i.e. 100 at Nigerien Universities and 100 for studying at Pakistani Universities. Pakistan offered Niger-Pakistan health and education corridor, revival of textile industry, Niger-Pakistan export processing zone, support in agriculture, building canals, in Niger.

Thanking Niger for its long-held principled stance on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and its valuable contribution as a member of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, the Foreign Minister apprised Prime Minister about the worsening human rights and humanitarian situation in IIOJK.

The Prime Minister highly appreciated the goodwill gestures of brotherly country Pakistan and showed keenness to further strengthen bilateral relations across a broad spectrum with a particular focus on economic partnership. He reiterated Niger’s principled stand on Kashmir issue.

Separately, Foreign Minister Qureshi and his Nigerien counterpart signed the MoU on establishing the mechanism of Pakistan-Niger Bilateral Political Consultations.