“Pakistan values its cordial relations
with Belgium and appreciates the support rendered by Belgium to Pakistan on the
occasion of recent Election of UN Human Rights Council as Pakistan has become
member of the council winning 151 votes”, says a press release received here
today from Brussels.
These
views were conveyed to the Belgian Vice Prime Minister & Minister
responsible for Foreign Trade Mr. Kris Peeters during his meeting with Pakistan’s
Federal Minister for Commerce and
Textiles Mr. Muhammad Pervaiz Malik and
the Attorney General of Pakistan Mr. AshtarAusaf Ali held in Brussels today.
Both
sides expressed satisfaction over expansion of bilateral trade between the two
countries. Belgium being the 7th largest trading partner of Pakistan
in the European Union, bilateral trade between Pakistan and Belgium has risen
from 681.8 million Euros in 2014 to 842million Euros by the end of year 2016
which amounts to a significant increase of 23.5 % over the time period of 2
years.
The
Minister for Commerce apprised Mr Peeters of the trade and investment
environment of Pakistan. He said “Pakistan offers excellent opportunities for
foreign investors with investment friendly regulations and a huge market of
over 190 million people”. He further added “Belgian investors can benefit from
the incentives provided by the government especially in the energy sector”.
Attorney
General of Pakistan Mr. AshtarAusaf Ali highlighted the positive steps taken by
the federal and provincial governments to improve the conditions of common man
informing that in 2015, Government of Pakistan through an act of parliament had
established an independent National Human Rights Commission. He said many of
its recommendations have been accepted and enforced by the Government of
Pakistan, such as: Hindu Marriage Act, 2017; Juvenile Justice System Bill 2017;
Transgender Persons Act, 2017; Criminal Law Amendment Act 2016 (Criminalising
sexual abuse, child pornography and raising age of criminal liability of
Children); Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Amendment 2016
and National Commission on Rights of the Child Bill 2017.
He
further informed that the Ministry of Oversees Pakistanis & Human Resource
Development has developed a National Framework to address Child Labour and
Bonded Labour- which includes actions on improving legislation and enforcement.
