Pakistan and Yemen on Tuesday inked four agreements and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance co-operation in agriculture, trade, education and culture. The agreements were signed here at the Prime Minister House after the second round of formal talks between Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Prime Minister Abdulkadir Ba-Jaamal.
The two leaders witnessed the signing, and expressed hope that these documents would further strengthen the ties between the two countries in more areas. Pakistan-Yemen agreement on abolition of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, special and official passports is meant to facilitate the two-way travel to holders of diplomatic, special and official passports.
The agreement is aimed at further promoting the friendly relations between the two countries and to improve the travel of the citizens of the two countries holding diplomatic, special and official passports. Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Pakistan.
The agreement on 'Cultural Co-operation' aims at strengthening cultural links, exchange of artistes, literary personalities, art production, films, publications and holding of exhibitions. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Khusro Bakhtyar signed the agreement on behalf of Pakistan Government.
Under this agreement, a joint committee of representatives from the two countries would be formed which would hold meetings in both Islamabad and Sanaa, respectively, to draw up an executive programme to this agreement and do all that would fulfil the purpose of this agreement.
The agreement between Pakistan Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock and Yemen Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation was also signed. This agreement aims at enhancing co-operation in research and development, agriculture production, livestock, forest desertification, irrigation and food industry. Minister for Defence Production Habibullah Warraich signed the agreement on behalf of Pakistan Government.
The agreement for co-operation in the fields of higher education and scientific research seeks to enhance bilateral co-operation between universities, exchange of professors and scientists.
Under the agreement, the two countries would offer scholarships to 40 students (both undergraduate and postgraduate) in Pharmacy, Bio-technology, IT, Engineering and Social Sciences. Minister for Population Welfare Shahbaz Hussain signed the agreement on behalf of Pakistan Government.
The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and the Federation of Yemen Chambers of Commerce (FYCC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bring closer the private sectors, business communities and industrialists of the two countries.
Under the MoU, the two sides will set up a Joint Business Council (JBC) for systematic promotion of business activities in trade, investment, technology transfer, services and other industrial sectors. The JBC agreement would provide a regular and recognised platform for discussions on promotion of these activities between businessmen and industrialists of the two countries.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz urged the private sectors of both Pakistan and Yemen to fortify their links and increase meaningful interaction by exploring opportunities offered by either country. He was addressing a large gathering of businessmen and investors of Yemen on the last day of his three-day visit to the Middle Eastern country.
Shaukat Aziz said Yemen was an attractive place for investment and Pakistani investors can find vast opportunities. Similarly, he said there were many areas in Pakistan open for investors from all over the world, including Yemen.
The Prime Minister said economic co-operation between the two countries was vital, and added that sovereignty of a country was not compromised by foreign investment as long as there was a strong regulatory regime.
He said in an era of globalisation there was no space for complacency and there was a need to adapt to the modern requirements by facing the challenges of tomorrow.
Shaukat Aziz assured that Pakistan will assist Yemen in every possible way for joining the WT, saying there was no escape and there was the urgent need to prepare for the challenging times ahead. He, however, said the countries need to constantly reform and meet the requirements of globalisation. He mentioned that Yemen was ideally located and could fully exploit its potential either by becoming a shipping, oil refining or a tourist centre.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has urged the Pakistani community in Yemen to play a more proactive role in bringing the two countries closer by strengthening business ties and people to people contacts.
Addressing a gathering of Pakistani community earlier on Monday night at the Republic Palace here, the Prime Minister said the purpose of his visit was to enhance the ties of Pakistan with the Arab countries.
He briefed the gathering about his meetings with President Ali Abdullah Saleh and Prime Minister Abdulkadir Ba-Jammal in the past two days and said that both sides expressed the resolve to strengthen ties for mutual good of the two peoples. He said his discussions focused on enhanced trade, economic, political, diplomatic ties, besides defence and security co-operation.
Shaukat said the Yemeni leaders particularly noted the progress made in the country, and added that he had extended co-operation in all fields. He said that the meeting of the Joint Ministerial Commission would be held early next year to strengthen economic ties.
He apprised the community about the progress made by the country in the past few years. He told them that the country had moved ahead rapidly in areas of economy and turned it around from the brink of bankruptcy to be among top ten reforming countries.
He said that poverty has declined, while the per capita income has doubled in the past six years. He said it was all owing to the broad-based reform agenda pursued by the government in social sector, and judicial, political and economic spheres. He said there still are several challenges, but added that the government was cognisant of these and was taking measures to address them. He urged the Pakistani community to play their role by creating a positive image of the country.
Pakistan's Ambassador to Yemen, Nawab Abdul Rehman Nousherwani welcomed the Prime Minister and said the recent spate of visits between the two countries would further strengthen their bilateral ties. The ambassador also hosted a dinner for the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and the Pakistani community.
Earlier the Prime Minister met the Chairman of the Shura (Council) Abdul Aziz Abdul Ghauri and discussed prospects for increased exchange of parliamentary delegations between the two countries.