Pakistan and Cuba would establish embassies in each others' capitals, said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. He was speaking as chief guest at the launching of the study Corporate Philanthropy in Pakistan: The case of public listed companies' here at the Governor House on Saturday night.
The Prime Minister particularly mentioned the role of Cuba towards the relief efforts in the wake of devastating earthquake on October 8 last year.
He pointed out that Cuba sent about 2,500 doctors, paramedics and nurses to Pakistan in their own planes for contributing to the relief work. "We don't even have embassy in Havana. They don't even have embassy here. Now they are opening at both places", he said.
Shaukat Aziz said he met many Cuban doctors who spoke little English. They told me that every group before they came to Pakistan had an audience with President Fidel Castro who told each and everyone of them that they are going as ambassadors of Cuba to Pakistan and make sure that you serve them like your own.
He said he and President Musharraf had many visits to the earthquake affected areas. Prime Minister said he had a total of 65 visits to the earthquake-affected areas since then and the patients he talked to were all praise for the Cuban doctors who, despite not attuned to cold weather, worked hard and earned the respect and best wishes of the people of Pakistan. Let's give them a big hand. They (the Cubans) are not here but may be this feeling of the people will travel to Havana", the Prime Minister said. He said the October 8 earthquake was a massive and colossal human tragedy.