Report : Shehzad Shafi
Ambassador of Poland to Pakistan, H.E Maciej Pisarski has expressed concerns on illegal human traffiking from Belarus into European countries including Poland. He has shared that the Polish border control had dealt with nearly 27 thousand attempts of crossing the border from Belarus in last one year. Here it is important to note that Pakistan has signed an agreement with Belarus to send more than 100 thousand workers during the visit of PM and CM Punjab last year to Minsk.
He said this in a forum hosted by media organization “Pakistan in the World” at Islamabad Club to discuss the recent visit of Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Mr. Radosław Sikorski and Deputy Interior Minister Mr. Maciej Duszczyk to Islamabad on 23-25 Oct. The sides reaffirmed resolve to transform these relations into a comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnership.
The participants of the forum welcomed the highlevel visits from Poland and expressed their hope that the visit and discussions with Pakistan government will definitely go a long way in the promotion of bilateral economic cooperation that already crossed the first milestone of USD 01 Billion. Poland’s investment in oil and gas sector of Pakistan exceeds USD 500 Million, that contribute almost 20% of energy needs of the country.
The speakers observed that there remained immense untapped potential to further expand mutual partnerships. Bilateral ties continue to develop on a very positive trajectory.
The forum was hosted by Mr. Tazeen Akhtar from the platform of media group “Pakistan in the World” while a selected number of guests from different walks of life were present. They included Ms Aamna Munawwar Awan , Chairperson COPAIR think tank, Ms Afshan Malik , advisor to President FPCCI, Ms Afshan Tehseen Bajwa, former Chairperson National Commission on Rights of Child, Mr. Khalid Malik, President English Speaking Union, Mr. Shehzad Shafi, Bureau Chief Koh e Noor Tv, Mustafa Khan renown anchorperson, Mohammad Shafiq construction sector expert. Political Consular of Portugal Embassy Mr. David Arcao also participated in the forum.
Ambassador breifed the participants on the meetings and agreements between the officials of both sides. Sides agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in trade, energy, infrastructure, defence, counter-terrorism, science, technology and education in delegation level dialogue between the Deputy Prime Ministers + Foreign Ministers in lead at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Islamabad. They signed (MoU) that envisioned regular bilateral consultations, which is aimed at further enhancing cooperation between the two sides.
Poland has made remarkable economic progress to now become a trillion-dollar economy. Pakistan is keen to develop cooperation on public finances, fintech and water management as well.
“An important meeting was between Minister Interior Mohsin Naqvi with Poland’s Deputy Minister for Interior, Maciej Duszczyk in which the sides agreed to enhance cooperation in various fields including illegal immigration, border security, and mutual legal assistance, and decided to strengthen official-level engagement to further boost bilateral ties, Ambassador noted.
The speakers in the forum observed that the Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, rightly said that illegal immigration was a highly sensitive issue for Pakistan, and that the government is carrying out a vigorous crackdown against the mafias involved. Pakistan aims to strengthen the Coast Guards to ensure the security of maritime borders. The speakers emphasized on taking proper measures to stop illegal immigrants while the genuine visa holders should not be off loaded at Pakistani airports.
DPM Sikorski, in his visit, while delivering a lecture at ISSI, said for several years, Poland’s neighbours, Russia and Belarus “have been trying to help people smugglers breach our border, exploiting people, exploiting tragic situations and using them as a tool of hybrid warfare and putting them under unnecessary risk. And Poland had to respond. Polish borders are now some of the best protected borders of the EU”.
However, DPM Sikorski, also shared , “Poland remains open to legal migration, and for real studies for real students. But I want to emphasise that there is zero tolerance for illegal migration to Polish territory, which is simultaneously the EU territory.”
Ambassador Pisarski said, ” DPM Sikorski admired that the Pakistani diaspora in Poland had been growing over the past few years. It is still quite small, around 2,000 people, but a quarter of them are students. DPM expressed his happiness that Polish universities are popular among young, talented people from Pakistan, and hoped that their experience and impressions that they gather in Poland serve as a basis for actual people-to-people diplomacy.”
H.E. Mr. Radoslaw Sikorski met with Prime Minister and President of Pakistan. The Prime Minister expressed Pakistan’s desire to further expand bilateral cooperation. Regional and international developments, including peace efforts in the Middle East and Ukraine were also discussed. He conveyed his warm regards to Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland and extended an invitation to him to undertake an official visit to Pakistan, at his earliest convenience.
President expressed Pakistan’s desire to further deepen political, economic, and cultural engagement between the two countries. He invited Polish businesses to explore joint ventures and investment opportunities in Pakistan’s special economic zones.
President Zardari also highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace and stability, and its constructive role in promoting connectivity and economic integration in South and Central Asia.
Mr. Sikorski was “no stranger in this part of the world”, having served as a war correspondent in the region during 1980s.During World War II, thousands of Polish refugees found shelter in present-day Pakistan i.e. in Karachi and Quetta.
The speakers lauded the role of Polish pilots and engineers in laying the foundation of the Pakistan Air Force. Dar continued that with this shared historical context, Pakistan viewed Poland as an important partner, bilaterally, as well as in the European Union.
Poland’s high-level of industrialization and progress that had been a feature of the country since the 1970s. Pakistan as a partner is benefitting from the Polish experiences of transformation into a trillion dollar economy.
