ISLAMABAD, NOV 06 (DNA) -Ambassador of Poland Mr. Piotr Opalinski has said relations between Poland and Pakistan and deep rooted and historical adding  in 1948 Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan sanctioned an agreement with exiled members of the Polish Air Force in the UK to build newly established Pakistani Air Force.

He expressed these views while giving an interview to DNA. Poland will celebrate its national day on November 11.

The Polish ambassador said, experienced pilots and engineers, who tested their skill and courage during the II World War, decided not only to work for Pakistani military, but to make Pakistan their new home. One of the most prominent Polish officers was Air Commodore Władysław Turowicz who apart from training pilots, was also one of the main creators of Pakistani missile project.

For safeguarding Pakistan’s airspace for over 30 years he was later awarded with many respectable awards like Sitara-e-Pakistan, Sitara-i-Khidmat and others. In the PAF Museum Air Commodore Władysław Turowicz and thirty Polish pilots were commemorated, he added.

He further disclosed, most prominent memorial of historical Polish presence in Pakistan is the obelisk at Gora Qabristan Memorial in Karachi, commemorating Poles who lived there and contributed to the development of Pakistan.

“Recently I also discovered Polish graves in Rawalpindi, one of the belonging also to a pilot Władysław Banach. As you can see the Polish cooperation from the past is still visible, due to some recent discoveries and press articles even more than before”.

To a question about chances of Pakistani products’ scope in Polish markets the ambassador said, “I’m sure there is still plenty of space to increase the Pakistani presence on Polish market and vice versa”.

He said when it came to economic cooperation our goal is to foster contacts between business in order to increase the trade exchange volume.

Poland is a market with huge potential, not yet explored enough by Pakistani business, which tends to focus mainly on the EU Countries. Poland offers an interesting alternative, having less competition and at the same time offering an easy access to the rest of European markets, he added.

To yet another question about cementing people to people relations the Polish ambassador said, it was important for the people of both countries to have a better knowledge of each other’s culture, customs and beliefs.

That improves bilateral relations by making and individual better understand potential business or political partners in the future agreements and ventures.

This better understanding can result in closer ties and cooperation between two countries. In order to achieve this goal we will continue to organize events during which we will present Polish culture to Pakistani audience, like a jugalbandi of Polish and Pakistani musicians.

We would also like to introduce some of the polish literature translated into Urdu to local readers, he added.

He said, this is the second time that he had  the privilege of working in Pakistan. “My previous tenure as deputy head of the Mission between 1999 and 2005 gave me an opportunity to learn about the fascinating culture, history, and present-day of Pakistan”.

He added, “ now, after about ten years, I have the honour, privilege and real pleasure to serve as Ambassador of Poland in Islamabad, my second home and a unique capital city with its beautiful view of Margalla Hills and lush greenery. I am still enchanted by Pakistan, its abundant culture, music, poetry and diverse cuisine”.

The ambassador said, while we do see a remarkable development of country’s economy and infrastructure, the real treasure of Pakistan is its warm, hardworking, friendly and welcoming people.

Both our countries and peoples share common values, like the appreciation of a family and respect for tradition. I am sure our friendship and multifaceted cooperation will grow in the years to come to the benefit of our countries and people, he concluded. DNA

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