Pakistan should expand its commercial and diplomatic footprint in Africa: NA Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs

Islamabad: A Meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs took place on Monday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad. The Ministry briefed the Committee on Pakistan’s relations with African countries. The Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Mohsin Dawar presided the meeting. The Committee stressed that Pakistan should expand its commercial and diplomatic footprint in Africa.

The Committee members, at the outset of the meeting, raised the matter involving the death of renowned Pakistani journalist Mr. Arshad Sharif in Keyna and sought details from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Committee was informed that the Kenyan ambassador was called to the Foreign Office and the Kenyan government has been requested to extend maximum facilitation in the case in question. The Committee stressed that Arshad Sharif’s death was a high-profile case and must not be treated as a routine case. The Committee urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to keep the Committee updated about unfolding developments regarding Arshad Sharif’s death in Kenya. One of the members underlined the need for sending Pakistani officials who are expert in investigation to assist the Pakistan High Commission to pursue the case with the Kenyan Government.

The Committee was informed that Pakistan’s “Engage Africa” rejuvenated the trajectory of Pakistan’s relations with the African countries. It was highlighted that prior to Engage Africa policy, Pakistan had only 14 missions in 54 African countries. The COVID-19 crisis and the emergence of Africa as vibrant emerging market laid the foundation of Pakistan’s new pivot to Africa. It was highlighted that Pakistan opened 5 new missions in Africa; relocated 6 commercial wings; appointed 26 Honorary Councils; established Rs.100 million Africa Fund; expanded bilateral consultations and made significant progress on visa abolition agreements and defense cooperation with a number of African countries. It was observed that Pakistan should expand bilateral political and engage business communities in Joint Commissions and business forums. It was also revealed that Pakistan’s high-level engagements and delegation exchange with the African countries need to expand. The Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also underlined the need for expanding Pakistan’s presence in UN Formed Police Units in Africa.

The members raised concerns about Pakistan’s growing trade deficit vis-à-vis the African countries. It was highlighted that the growing demand for coal and petroleum products caused a spike in Pakistan’s imports from Africa resulting in trade deficit. The Committee was informed that Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa constituted Pakistan’s top export partners and South Africa, Kenya and Morocco were Pakistan’s key import partners. The members underlined the need to diversify Pakistan’s export basked in terms of market and product exported as Pakistan’s majorly relied on the export of Rice to the African countries. The members urged the Chair to invite both the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to identify obstacles to expanding Pakistan’s trade with Africa and in the light of such briefing make recommendation to address those concerns.

The Chairman of the Committee Mohsin Daawar, MNA Mr. Muhammad Khan Daha, MNA. Zahra Wadood Fatemi, MNA Syed Abrar Ali Shah, MNA Zulfiqar Ali Behan, MNA Muhammad Abubakar and MNA Ramesh Kumar Vankwani attended the meeting.