Africa Monitoring Desk Islamabad
President Pakistan Africa Institute for Development and Research (PAIDAR) Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed has said that Tunisia and Pakistan are both member of global south community having deep strong historical relations and the time has come to transfrom these ideal mutual bonds into meaningful economic cooperation for which great potential and political will is available at both sides.
The Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East & Africa (CAMEA) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), in collaboration with Pakistan Africa Institute for Development and Research (PAIDAR), organized an event to mark the 70th anniversary of Tunisia’s Independence.
The proceedings which began with the national anthems of Pakistan and Tunisia, were moderated by Dr. Amina Khan, Director CAMEA. Speakers included Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman BOG ISSI; the Chief Guest on the occasion was Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, President PAIDAR. Ms.Dorsaf Maaroufi, Charge d’ Affairs of Tunisia to Pakistan; Javed Ahmed Umrani, Ambassador of Pakistan to Tunisia also spoke on the occasion.
Enovys from Rwanda, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Jordan and many other countries were also present.
The seminar was attended by senior officials from the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Honorary Consuls of the Republic of Tunisia in Lahore and Peshawar, in addition to members of the Tunisian community in Islamabad. Representatives from various Chambers of Commerce across Pakistan also participated in the event.
Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, in his opening remarks highlighted that the 70th anniversary of Tunisia’s independence reflects the resilience and determination of the Tunisian people.
He noted that Pakistan and Tunisia share a historic bond rooted in Pakistan’s support for Tunisia’s self-determination, which has evolved into growing economic and commercial cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1957.
He emphasized that while bilateral trade remains modest, there is strong potential to expand it in sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and manufacturing, supported by institutional mechanisms like the Joint Ministerial Commission and Bilateral Political Consultations and by leveraging opportunities under African Continental Free Trade Area.
Dr.Amina Khan said that the 70th Independence Day of Tunisia is a moment that celebrates the resilience, determination, and forward-looking spirit of the Tunisian people in shaping their sovereign future. Tunisia’s journey is not only one of political independence, but also of continuous economic transformation and development.
She concluded by saying that these collective efforts reflect the importance Africa holds for Pakistan as evident by today’s event, which is organized in partnership with the Embassy of Tunisia. This reflects the shared commitment of both countries to further strengthening bilateral ties.
President PAIDAR , Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, while speaking online, stated that Tunisia plays a leading role in African politics and Pakistan was one of the first countries to support Tunisia’s independence. The PLO was given sanctuary in Tunisia in the 1990s and like Pakistan, Tunisia is also a strong supporter of Palestine. Both countries enjoy warm relations and there are immense opportunities to enhance trade and cooperation in various fields.
He said, the time has come to take this relationship forward as both countries are a part of the Global South. Praising Tunisia’s resilience and leadership, he called for stronger trade, education, and cultural exchanges, advocating deeper people-to-people and business linkages. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to Africa, emphasizing that the future belongs to the Global South.
Tunisian Charge d’ Affaires Ms. Dorasaf Maaroufi, while speaking on the occasion highlighted that there are strong historical ties between Tunisia and Pakistan, especially Pakistan’s support for Tunisia at the United Nations.
She noted that this celebration reflects continued commitment to stronger relations. She emphasized boosting trade through the Preferential Trade Agreement, expanding cultural and tourism links, and strengthening people to people connections.
TUNISIAN NIGHT IN LAHORE ! Potential of Bilateral Cooperation Highlighted
She also highlighted Tunisia’s organic olive oil expertise as a key area for cooperation. She further said that we are focused on people-to-people connections and Tunisia looks forward to enhancing its relationship with Pakistan. She also said that Tunisia offers Pakistan a partnership through the olive oil trade which can further be leveraged by the Preferential Trade Agreement.
Ambassador Javed Umrani said that Pakistan and Tunisia continue to strengthen their bilateral relations, with trade showing a positive upward trajectory. Business communities and chambers of commerce on both sides have been actively engaged in fostering closer economic ties, including a 17-member delegation that visited Tunisia last year, where productive meetings were held with counterparts and several MoUs were signed. While these developments are encouraging, there remains significant potential that both sides must work harder to realize.
Mr. Ammad Rasheed, Honorary Consul in Peshawar, while expressing his views said that we are actively working to further deepen these ties, particularly in the fields of trade, tourism and cultural exchange. Over the past few years, efforts in Peshawar and across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have focused on building bridges connecting business communities and creating awareness about Tunisia as a gateway to Europe and Africa.
Mr. Mohammad Hameed,Honorary Consul in Lahore, stated that Tunisia and Pakistan have a great relationship and it must be taken forward in areas like textiles and therefore it is important that the trade agreement gets through as it will provide more opportunities for cooperation. Similarly, technology transfer regarding olive oil trade can also reap benefits for Pakistan.
The seminar highlighted the deep-rooted historical ties between Tunisia and Pakistan and reviewed the bilateral cooperation agenda. A significant portion of the session was dedicated to promoting Tunisian olive oil, showcasing its unique characteristics and world-class quality.
The event also featured a documentary titled “Tunisia: The Organic Land,” highlighting Tunisia’s global leadership in the organic olive oil sector.
Pak Tunisia trade stood at approximately US $13.58 million in the 2023–2024 period, with a significant trade balance favoring Pakistan. Pakistan’s exports (mainly textiles) were over $12 million, while imports from Tunisia were much lower, focusing on specialized items like clothing and olive oil.
Both nations are discussing a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), which is expected to significantly increase the current trade volume. Tunisia needs to upgrade the status of the embassy in Islamabad by posting an Ambassador or by promoting the incumbet acting ambassador. Honorary Consulates in Peshawar and Lahore are expected to play their role in this regards.
