Seminar on Wednesday ‘Pakistan South Africa Relations: exploring opportunities for collaboration’

Speakers at a seminar on Wednesday ‘Pakistan South Africa Relations: exploring opportunities for collaboration’ unanimously agreed that both the nations needed to work closely to strengthen economic, political, and social ties for the benefit of the two countries.

The seminar was organized here by History Department of Quaid-i-Azam University in collaboration with QAU Alumni Association.

While addressing the seminar High Commissioner of South Africa Daniel Jabulani Mavimbela said South Africa and Pakistan established full diplomatic relations in 1994 both countries joined other nations in pursuing a policy of peaceful co-existence and multilateral decision making and conflict resolution.

He said both the countries are enjoying cordial bilateral relations that offer an enormous potential for enhancing mutual annual trade volume that currently stands at 450 million.

Daniel Jabulani Mavimbela said South African exports items to Pakistan worth 240 million dollar annually whereas the figure stands at 210 million dollar in case of Pakistan, adding major items of exports from Pakistan to South Africa include cotton yarn, woven fabrics, leather, rice and textiles.

“The extension and consolidation of trade and economic relations between two countries will benefit both countries and their people as well,” he said.

He said his country is facing numerous challenges such as poverty, under development and crime and they are trying hard to address the root causes that require a proper understanding of the needs of the people and response within the parameters of good governance.

QAU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Masoom Yasinzai in his address said they would establish Nelson Mandela corner in the library to pay tribute to this great leader who put in brave resistance against discrimination on the basis of race and color. He emphasized the need for academic exchange between two countries. The seminar was well attended by deans, faculty members and students.