Nadeem Khalid, Chairman, and Engr M A Jabbar, member, of Pakistan-Ukraine Business Council (PUBC) of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), have condoled the death of Ambassador of Ukraine in Pakistan, Ihor Pasko.
In a letter sent to Sergiy Khabenko, Deputy Head of the Mission, they said that late Pasko was to address the first meeting of PUBC in FPCCI head office here for which arrangements were underway. "We have been deprived of the guidance of such a wonderful diplomat who was more like a professor of international relations and carried rich experience, and was conversant with the political economy of the world."
Engr Jabbar said that late Pasko was highly inclined to promote business ties between the two countries. He had identified mining of coal in Sindh province and also its value-addition as possible co-operation from the Ukrainian government in providing technical assistance to establish power producing units based on utilising the black gold of Thar in Sindh province. He had also additionally identified the need to assist Pakistan in mechanisation of agriculture so that Pakistan could improve its present position in agriculture numeric in the world and become exporter of agro-based value-added products.
Late Ambassador was also interested in ensuring tourism trade promotion, general sales agreement for Ukraine airline to improve traffic between the two countries for goods movement and as well as increase interactions of people from both countries.
Jabbar said: "It is a great loss as we have lost a mentor who was dedicated to develop business interests". Pasko was highly interested in the rehabilitation of Pakistan Steel Mills, in which Ukraine is already participating, resulting in the re-development of coke oven batteries for sustaining the manufacturing of iron and steel as well as giving way for exports.