Youth engagement would be the focus of the High Commission and
its four Consulates during 2018. This was stated by H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas,
Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK while chairing the “Consuls General
Conference” at the High Commission on 08 December 2017. The Conference was
attended by Consuls General of Pakistan in Birmingham, Bradford, Glasgow
and Manchester as well as the officers of the High Commission, says a
press release received from London here today.
The purpose of the Conference was to review the implementation
status of the decisions made during the last Conference and set out goals and
targets for the next year. A wide range of issues pertaining to the Consulates
of Pakistan came under discussion, including administrative and consular
matters; community outreach initiatives; cultural, sports and literary
activities; and economic diplomacy with special focus on enhancing trade and
promoting investment in Pakistan.
The High Commissioner said: “The year 2017 was the year of
celebrations of the 70th Independence Anniversary of Pakistan during which we
showcased our rich culture and heritage in a series of activities which
concluded at the installation of the bust of the Quaid-i-Azam at the Lincoln's
Inn. We would be focusing on youth engagement during the year 2018."
The High Commissioner said he would be visiting various academic
institutions to meet with the Pakistani students to further encourage them to
make the best of the available educational and career opportunities in this
country. He would also brief them about the enormous opportunities for educated
youth in Pakistan. The High Commissioner directed the Consuls General to do the
same in their areas of jurisdiction. He particularly emphasized on arranging
sports and cultural events to engage with the youth.
The Consuls General apprised the High Commissioner of the
performance of their respective Consulates during the year and outlined their
plans for the next year. They also discussed the issues and challenges
faced by the Consulates and sought guidance from the High Commissioner, who
gave them elaborate guidelines for the future with special emphasis on
community facilitation.
The
High Commissioner advised the Consuls General to step up their efforts to
enhance bilateral trade and adopt a more proactive approach in attracting the
foreign investment to Pakistan, especially when there is huge scope for it in
the context of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). In this regard, he
asked the Consuls General to enhance their interaction with the local Chambers
of Commerce and Industry. The High Commissioner said the year 2017 was
important in the sense that several high level visits of the British leadership
to Pakistan took place during this year including the very successful visit of
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.
It was a day-long Conference in which all important issues
relating to the community and bilateral relations between Pakistan and the UK
were discussed in detail.
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