Mayor of Islamabad Sheikh Anser Aziz agress to proposal; looking forward to meetign with Indonesian officials

by A.M.BHATTI

BALI (INDONESIA), OCT 29 (DNA) – The Denpasar municipal administration and Indonesian ambassador in Pakistan Iwan Amri along with Pakistani media delegation held talks with the Denpasar authorities to work out possibility of giving Denpasar and Islamabad  a sister city status. Denpasar is one of the main cities of Bali province.

The Mayor of Denpasar had invited the visiting Pakistani media delegation and Ambassador of Indonesia to Pakistan along with other embassy officials for lunch.

The Mayor’s assistant received the delegation and briefed them about the working of the Mayor’s office, role and responsibilities.

The proposal to give Denpasar and Islamabad a sister city status also came under discussion and both sides showed interest in proceeding further with the proposal.

It may be mentioned here that the Mayor of Islamabad Sheikh Anser Aziz is also keen to build new linkages and expand cooperation with other metropolitan cities. The Mayor Islamabad has in a recent interview with DNA had told that he already had concluded MoUs with some cities.

About Islamabad, Denpasar sister city proposal the Mayor of  Islamabad Sheikh Anser Aziz, when contacted bY DNA, liked the idea and is ready to meeting with Indonesia officials in order to further discuss this proposal. .

The Denpasar officials hinted at extending an invitation to the Mayor of Islamabad to visit Bali with a view to exploring avenues of cooperation and purposeful bilateral engagement.

The Ambassador of Indonesia while speaking on the occasion said huge potential existed between Indonesia and Pakistan adding the proposal to give Denpasar and Islamabad a sister city status was a good idea therefore now it is up to both sides to work jointly for its materialization.

The Ambassador also welcomed the participation of Pakistan delegation in Trade Expo held in Jakarta and termed it very encouraging and productive. He said such interactions would surely contribute to improved and deeper bilateral relations.

The population of Bali is around 4 million while annual influx of tourists to this province is also 4 million.  Bali is an island city that is a province of Indonesia. The city has become known as a center for culture in Indonesia, and its role as a popular tourist destination has boosted its economy, making it a desirable place to live and visit.

The name Bali comes from Sri Kesari Warmadewa from Sanur in Bali. He  gave the island the name Bali Dwipa in the year 913, which is from Sanscrit meaning island of sacrifice, reincarnation, or offering. Before that, it was known by sailors as Bally, Boly, or Ballie, and the Spanish called it Minor Jawa.

Majority of Bali population is Hindu while there is also a small percentage of Muslims and Christians living on the island.

The Pakistan and Denpasar city metropolitan officials also discussed possibility of cooperation in the tourism sector because tourism in Bali province is the thriving sector that is why it has become a must-visit place for the tourists from across the globe.

Pakistan can surely benefit from Balinese tourism in particular and Indonesian tourism in general. Pakistan is gifted with a plethora of splendid scenic sites, especially the North part of Pakistan has a lot to offer to Indonesian as well as tourists from other countries.

The Pakistan delegation was served with traditional Balinese cuisines. A traditional Balinese dance by elegantly attired Balinese artists, added color to the luncheon meeting. =DNA

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