ISLAMABAD: The French Embassy in Pakistan celebrated the National Day with a grand event, where French Ambassador Nicolas Galey expressed gratitude and highlighted the positive trajectory of bilateral relations between France and Pakistan.
The event was attended by Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman, government officials, diplomats, media representatives, and members of various sectors of society.
Ambassador Galey specifically mentioned the increasing number of Pakistani students studying in France through university cooperation programs as a positive development. He commended the engagement of France’s development agency in significant infrastructure projects in Pakistan, with a recent focus on the agriculture sector, as prioritized by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Positive Engagement Between France and Pakistan
The ambassador emphasized the successful resolution of challenges and ongoing positive engagement between France and Pakistan. He highlighted France’s support for Pakistan in multilateral institutions, such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which has led to favorable outcomes for Pakistan.
Ambassador Galey expressed satisfaction with the negotiations between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), believing that it would open encouraging prospects for the Pakistani economy and attract increased international investments.
Regarding the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) plus free trade program, the ambassador expressed France’s support for fruitful negotiations between the European Union and Pakistan. He emphasized the significance of the relationship between Pakistan and the EU, particularly through the GSP plus program, of which Pakistan is the largest beneficiary in the world.
The National Day celebration served as a platform to acknowledge the strong bilateral relations between France and Pakistan, showcasing the positive engagement and cooperation in various fields. The event highlighted the mutual commitment to enhancing relations and furthering cooperation in areas such as education, infrastructure development, and multilateral engagements.
