Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani today affirmed Pakistan’s commitment to bolstering its relationship with Nepal during a meeting with the newly appointed Nepalese Ambassador, Ms. Rita Dhital, in Islamabad. Gilani emphasized the historical, cultural, and respectful bonds between the two nations, highlighting the significance of high-level interactions for enhanced collaboration.

He congratulated Dhital on her new role and wished her a fruitful tenure. The discussion addressed the limited bilateral trade, currently at USD 6.47 million for the fiscal year 2024-25, which Gilani believes falls short of the nations” potential. He praised the expanding defense cooperation, mentioning Pakistan”s offer of 101 free training positions to the Nepalese armed forces, with 31 already accepted.

Educational partnerships were also acknowledged, with 25 scholarships offered annually to Nepali students under the Pakistan Technical Assistance Programme (PTAP), a commitment Gilani pledged to maintain. He underscored the potential for religious tourism, citing shared Buddhist heritage sites like Taxila and Lumbini, and encouraged Nepali citizens to explore religious sites in Pakistan.

Gilani also expressed apprehensions about climate change”s effects on both countries, advocating for collaborative efforts at various levels. He reiterated Pakistan”s support for revitalizing SAARC as a regional platform and commended Nepal”s current chairmanship, hoping for the full resumption of its operations soon. The meeting concluded with Gilani conveying his best wishes to Ambassador Dhital, who reciprocated the sentiment and concurred with his perspectives.