Pak high commissioner hosts dinner for delegates

High Commissioner for Pakistan to Bangladesh Imran Ahmed Siddiqui hosted a dinner in honour of Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, former foreign secretary of Pakistan, and Ambassador Asif Durrani, former envoy of Pakistan to the Islamic Republic of Iran and the UAE.

Ambassador Aizaz Chaudhry and Ambassador Asif Durrani are currently visiting Dhaka in connection with the Bay of Bengal Conversation 2022, being organised by the Center for Governance Studies in November 21-23.

Muhammad Abdul Manan, minister for planning, was present as special guest. 

The dinner was also attended, among others, by former government officials, ambassadors, journalists, members of academia and representatives of think-tanks based in Dhaka, said a news release.

In their remarks, the visiting delegates outlined key global trends and developments as well as the challenges and opportunities for developing countries.

Speaking on Pakistan-Bangladesh relations in the changing world order, Ambassador Aizaz Chaudhry said that people of the two countries share common bonds of history and culture and mutual feelings of goodwill among the people. 

Ambassador Asif Durrani in his remarks touched upon regional approaches and reactivation of regional forums like SAARC and NAM and said that SAARC is the least integrated region in the world whereas regional blocks in other parts of the world are flourishing.

During the interactive session, most speakers stressed on the need for enhanced regional cooperation to tackle common challenges.

In his concluding remarks, the high commissioner thanked the participants for attending the event and expressed hope that the interaction between think tanks and thought leadership of the two counties will continue in future aimed at exploring avenues of policy convergence and cooperation to the mutual benefit of the two countries.