*Pakistan’s ambassador designate to South Korea Ms. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch called on to the Federal Minister of IPC, Dr Fehmida Mirza today at her office in Islamabad.* “Our female players of Balochistan have shown tremendous performances not only in SAF games but also in Taekwondo championships. I am endeavoring towards providing them with international exposure and coaches as this will uplift their confidence to yet another level” said the minister.
Dr Fehmida congratulated the ambassador designate for her new assignment to South Korea. She said that Islamabad and Seoul have been enjoying cordial relations for the last several decades. Therefore, expressed that Pakistan gives immense importance to its friendly relations with South Korea and wants to expand it even further in all the fields particularly in sports and tourism.
While appreciating the role Pakistani females are playing, in all the fields, she said “it is very encouraging to see our women excelling in all spheres. Females have always proven themselves to be very efficient diplomats. They work with great zeal and create a difference when given such assignments.”
Dr Fehmida lamented that sports and tourism have never been given much attention, although they can prove to be very effective in enhancing our relations with other countries. She stressed that this is a low hanging fruit and by putting a little bit of effort in this domain could yield numerous benefits for our country. Minister asserted that the ambassador can assist and venture towards signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Seoul and Islamabad pertaining to mutual cooperation in sports and tourism. Such an agreement would include providing training to our coaches and athletes and visits of South Korean players to Pakistan.
Dr Fehmida underscored that our female athletes from Balochistan have shown exceptional performances in SAF Games and Taekwondo championship. Hence these trainings will not only motivate them but will also provide them with international exposure, which in turn would help to boost their confidence level. Moreover, it would project a soft image of Pakistan vis a vis’ sports diplomacy Besides this, she emphasized that Pakistan’s youth has immense potential in sports and efforts should be made to reap the benefits out of this. She also proposed that ambassador can seek the help of Seoul towards sports infrastructure development particularly in Balochistan like football grounds, sports academies etc. While concluding the meeting, minister wished the ambassador good luck for all future assignments, meanwhile ambassador also assured her that she would strive to bolster our cordial relations with South Korea.
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