Pakistan and Croatia have agreed to undertake steps to inject greater momentum into their political and economic relations.
An understanding to this effect came at a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Croatian Foreign Minister Dr. Gordan Grlic Radman in Islamabad today.
Later in a joint press stakeout, the Deputy Prime Minister said they have agreed to promote cooperation in all areas of mutual interest including trade, investment, agriculture, labour mobility, visa facilitation, education, defense, climate change, tourism, infrastructure, IT and seaport collaboration.
He said the two sides have decided to make the MOU on bilateral political consultations between the two foreign ministries fully functional and hold the consultations on a regular periodic basis. He said we have agreed to revitalize our bilateral trade and economic relations including through supporting B2B exchanges.
Ishaq Dar said he invited the Croatian side to benefit from Pakistan’s favourable investment policies.
The Deputy Prime Minister said he briefed the Croatian side on the potential, capacity and connectivity of Karachi Port. Both sides discussed the possibility of collaborative arrangements between the ports of two countries.
Ishaq Dar said they are working together to expedite the opening of a Croatian visa processing facility in Islamabad, emphasizing this will be a welcome relief for Pakistani applicants for Croatian visa by sparing them from travelling to a third country to obtain the visa.
The Deputy Prime Minister said both sides also agreed to continue working on legal pathways for the employment of Pakistan’s skilled workforce in Croatia.
In his remarks on the occasion, the Croatian Foreign Minister said his country greatly values people-to-people contacts and that it will like to enable Pakistani citizens to submit visa applications in Pakistan.
He said our bilateral relationship is based on friendship and mutual respect. He expressed the confidence that this visit will further strengthen this relationship.
The Croatian Foreign Minister appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts that resulted in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding to end the conflict between the US and Iran.
He said Croatia actively supports the participation of women in UN peacekeeping missions. He said Croatia will welcome Pakistan’s female police officers at its pre-deployment trainings that are certified by the UN.
