Bilateral economic relations between Pakistan and Zimbabwe are set for a rejuvenation to the levels prior 2000, says Murad Baseer Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Zimbabwe.
Ambassador Baseer was addressing members of the Pakistan community during his country’s 47th National Day anniversary in Harare last week.
“We encourage more business interaction between the two countries,” he said, explaining: “We know that there have been challenges and obstacles in Zimbabwe but with the Second Republic here (Zimbabwe) we’re confident that these will be overcome soon.”
Chronicling historical and political relations between the two countries dating back to Zimbabwe’s struggle for independence, the career diplomat who joined the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2003, expressed satisfaction at the warm relations between the two countries.
After independence, Zimbabwe got assistance from Pakistan in various sectors including the military where Pakistan helped Zimbabwe in rebuilding its airforce – with the former seconding its senior serving officer Air Marshal Mohammed Azim Daudpota, a decorated officer of the Pakistan Air Force, to be the first Air Chief of the AirForce of Zimbabwe from 1983 to 1986.
Pakistan Air Force trained most of the Zimbabwean pilots in the initial days along with construction of Thornhill Air Base.
The two countries – then both members of the Common wealth before Zimbabwe pulled out after falling out with the Britain – also cooperated in other fields including education, health, finance and agriculture before the Zimbabwe economy went into a tailspin at the turn of the millennium.
“Now there is plenty of potential for a rejuvenation of relations especially on the economic front,” observed the ambassador explaining his embassy was working to bring Pakistan investment into Zimbabwe “so that they can come and see the opportunities for themselves”.
“Only last week we facilitated engagement between local telecommunication companies here and Pakistan Lida Group to assist Zimbabwe communications move from G2 to G4,” the ambassador, who also is accredited to Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi and Zambia, said.
“We can see light at the end of the tunnel and we intend to grow our trade relations from the small US$30 million to much larger figures,” he said, optimistic that Zimbabwe’s economy remains stable and on a sustainable growth trajectory.
