����ֱ��

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is seeking economic and trade integration with markets in African countries in a push for sustainable economic growth, Pakistani state media reported on Sunday, citing a senior foreign ministry official.

Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan, an additional secretary at the Pakistani foreign ministry, said this at a roundtable, “Pakistan Africa Connectivity – Engage Africa Policy of Pakistan,” with African envoys serving in Islamabad, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency.

The event was attended by Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, president of the Pakistan Africa Institute for Development Research (PAIDAR), ambassadors, high commissioners, and deputy heads of mission of African Embassies.

The envoys shared the present status of cooperation between their countries and Pakistan as well as pointed out gaps and suggested measures to enhance the level of trade between the sides.

“Additional Secretary MOFA, Mr. Hamid Asghar Khan took note of the proposals and assured the envoys of every possible effort to do whatever is needful,” the APP report said.

“Khan expressed his mind and vision on how to increase connectivity and cooperation with African countries implementing the engage Africa policy of Pakistan.”

Pakistan, currently bolstered by a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, is making rigorous efforts to boost trade, connectivity and foreign investment to ensure a sustainable economic recovery following a prolonged economic meltdown.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed enhanced engagement with Africa, especially in trade, investment and commercial ties, according to the report.

In this regard, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) shall be holding a single-country exhibition in Ethiopia, in conjunction with the foreign ministry and the Pakistani embassy in Addis Ababa on October 16-18, with participation of over 100 Pakistani exhibitors.

Ambassador Khan highlighted air connectivity between Pakistan and Ethiopia as a direct link with Africa.

“Africa is the continent of today with a population of 1.6 billion and 54 countries,” he said. “Pakistani trade with Africa has potential of much more than USD5.4 billion per annum only.”

Earlier this month, Pakistan’s Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry also proposed a multi-tier logistics corridor linking China to Africa through Pakistan’s southwestern Gwadar port, amid Pakistan’s efforts to establish itself as a transit trade hub.

During his visit to Beijing, Chaudhry met representatives of the Chinese shipping and logistics hub, Tianjin Dongjiang Comprehensive Free Trade Zone. The maritime affairs ministry said the discussions revolved around ship financing and leasing opportunities.

“Chaudhry invited Dongjiang firms to invest in bonded warehouses, cold chain facilities and bulk cargo handling in Gwadar, and proposed developing a China–Gwadar–Africa logistics corridor,” the maritime affairs ministry said.

QUETTA: Unidentified kidnappers have killed a senior government officer, who was abducted along with his son in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province more than a month ago, and dumped his body in a remote, mountainous region, provincial officials said on Sunday.

Assistant Commissioner (AC) Muhammad Afzal, who was posted in Balochistan’s Ziarat resort town, was kidnapped while he was visiting a tourist spot called Zizri with his family on Aug. 10, according to police.

No group claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. In a video, which emerged last week, the kidnapped official was seen urging the government to fulfil the demands of his kidnappers without specifying those demands.

Provincial government officials said on Sunday the kidnappers had killed AC Afzal and dumped his body in the remote, mountainous area of Khost in Harnai district. They did not say whether his son had also been killed.

“There were reports of [the body being dumped at] three locations in north, south and east of the mountainous range of Khost and Zardalu,” Harnai Additional Deputy Commissioner Saleem Tareen told Arab News, adding the paramilitary Levies force and law enforcement agencies were searching for the body with the help of drone cameras.

“We have checked north and south but due to the dark, we will resume our search operation to the east in the morning.”

Balochistan, Pakistan’s southwestern province is the site of a decades-long insurgency waged by Baloch separatist groups, who often attack security forces and foreigners, and kidnap government officials.

In a statement, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti condemned the killing of AC Afzal and extended sympathies to his family.

“The blood of Muhammad Afzal will not go in vain,” Bugti said. “The killers of innocent lives and enemies of peace will not be able to escape their fate.”

Earlier this year, gunmen kidnapped Tump Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Hanif Noorzai while he was en route to the provincial capital of Quetta from Tump, according to officials. The outlawed Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) group claimed his kidnapping and released the official on Sept. 17.