Pakistan and Norway have agreed to undertake steps to enhance their relations and cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, including trade, investment, education, defense, climate change, information technology and maritime affairs.
An understanding to this effect was reached during a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide in Islamabad today.
Later, in a joint press stakeout, the Deputy Prime Minister said Pakistan greatly values its relations with Norway and looks forward to further strengthening them.
He said both sides agreed that their bilateral trade is below the potential of two economies and there is a need to enhance it through effective measures.
Ishaq Dar said Pakistan offers enormous investment opportunities to Norwegian companies. He said a renowned Norwegian company Yara International, is establishing a joint venture in plant nutrition with Fauji Fertilizer Company in Pakistan. He hoped this initiative would be a trailblazer for many more future projects between the two countries.
The Deputy Prime Minister mentioned that our technology partnership with Norway is a success story and highlighted five-fold increase in Pakistan's IT exports to Norway.
Ishaq Dar said the two sides have agreed on the expeditious finalization of various agreements and MOUs between the two countries.
He said we are grateful to Norway's maritime authorities for their support in capacity building and providing technical training for Pakistan's shipbreaking industry.
The Deputy Prime Minister said both countries have also agreed to enhance people-to-people contacts. He said labour mobility was also a key area that was discussed and the two sides agreed to continue work on legal pathways for Pakistan's skilled manpower.
He said both countries share a commitment to multilateralism, the principles of the UN Charter, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and peaceful resolution of disputes.
Ishaq Dar said that he also briefed the Norwegian Foreign Minister on the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute. He said India has brought a new dimension to an already volatile situation by unilaterally announcing the abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty in contravention of international law. He reiterated that India must end the weaponization of water and uphold its treaty obligations.
In his remarks on the occasion, the Norwegian Foreign Minister the partnership between Pakistan and Norway is strong.
He commended Pakistan's important and constructive role during the recent Iran-US conflict. He said the efforts of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir are really a service to the world.
