Islamabad: Four newly designated envoys presented their credentials to President Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad on Friday. The envoys who presented their credentials included High Commissioner-designate of Canada Tarik Ali Khan, Ambassador-designate of Lebanon Abdulaziz Issa, Ambassador-designate of Netherlands Mr. Robert-Jan Siegert, and Non-Resident High Commissioner-designate of New Zealand Mr. David Pine. Upon their arrival at the Presidency, the envoys were accorded a Guard of Honour by a contingent of the Pakistan Armed Forces.
According to Radio Pakistan, President Zardari welcomed the newly accredited envoys, congratulating them on their appointments and expressing confidence that their tenures would further strengthen Pakistan’s bilateral relations with their respective countries. He highlighted Pakistan’s longstanding and friendly relations with Canada, emphasizing the need for enhanced economic, trade, and investment cooperation, particularly in the IT, energy, and minerals sectors. The President noted the importance of people-to-people linkages and praised the vibrant Pakistani diaspora in Canada for promoting goodwill between the two nations.
In his conversation with the Ambassador of Lebanon, President Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s deep solidarity with the Government and people of Lebanon, condemning Israel’s aggression against civilians. He assured Pakistan’s continued support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and emphasized the importance of enhancing bilateral trade, security, and counter-terrorism cooperation.
During his meeting with the Ambassador of the Netherlands, the President underscored the importance of further strengthening bilateral ties, especially in trade, investment, agriculture, and education. He appreciated the Netherlands’ partnership in areas such as water management, climate resilience, and sustainable development, and invited greater Dutch investment in Pakistan.
In his interaction with the Non-Resident High Commissioner of New Zealand, President Zardari highlighted the shared Commonwealth heritage and democratic values between the two countries. He stressed the potential for enhanced cooperation in agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and clean energy, and expressed appreciation for New Zealand’s support for Pakistan’s multilateral initiatives.
The President extended his best wishes to all four envoys for a successful and productive tenure, expressing hope that their efforts would lead to stronger bilateral and multilateral partnerships for mutual benefit.