Pakistan's 77th National Day

This Week on People Asia, The Philippine Star, April 16, 2017

At the recent celebration of Pakistan's 77th National Day at the Pakistani ambassador's house in Dasmariñas Village, Makati City, Ambassador Safdar Hayat recalled his nation's journey to independence — a dream that had its beginnings in the passage of the Lahore resolution in 1940 by the Muslim League led by the dynamic Muhammad Ali Jinnah, known as the founder of Pakistan.

Formal diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Pakistan was established in 1949 via an air-service agreement, but cooperation between both countries started much earlier. In 1951, the friendship between the two nations was solidified even further through a treaty of friendship that was signed in Washington in January 1951. The establishment of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) in 1954, with both countries as signatories along with the US, UK, Australia, France, New Zealand and Thailand, enhanced relations even more as signatory countries pledged to provide mutual assistance in times of armed attacks or subversion.

Through the years, bilateral cooperation, specifically in terms of trade and commerce, grew especially in the last three years that saw a visit by Pakistan's Chamber of Commerce in August 2014, followed by a delegation coming from the Rice Export Association of Pakistan in 2015 to explore potential investments with Philippine business chambers. Over 20 agreements and memorandum of understanding regarding trade, cultural exchanges, promotion and protection of investment and many more have been set by both countries, with a few more currently in the pipeline aimed at establishing more progressive cooperation and expanding bilateral trade between the two countries, which is estimated at $100 million.

As Ambassador Hayat noted, Pakistan considers the Philippines an important component of its “Vision East Asia Policy” aimed at enhancing relations across diverse areas with countries in the region.

Photos by Ramon Joseph J. Ruiz