Embassy of Pakistan
(France)
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PRESS RELEASE
Kashmir Solidarity Day observed in France
Paris; February 5, 2021
The resolve and struggle of Kashmiris is unique in the annals of history as there is hardly any example in human history where more than ten million people have been subjected to brutal repression by an occupying armed force of more than 900,000 for more than 70 years and yet they continue to raise the banner of freedom, said Mr. M. Amjad Aziz Qazi, Charge d’Affaires a.i. Embassy of Pakistan France, while addressing a webinar which was held here today to observe the Kashmir Solidarity Day.
Members of the Pakistani and Kashmiri community as well as French and ethnic media persons in Paris attended the event via video-link, which was held online due to Covid-19 restrictions. Messages of President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan were read out to the audience.
Mr. Qazi highlighted the significance of this day and said that it serves as a reminder for the international community as well as the United Nations to ensure the right to self-determination for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K) through a free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the UN.
He said each year, the government and people of Pakistan observe the 5th of February as Kashmir Solidarity Day to reaffirm support to our brothers and sisters in IIOJK as well as to appreciate their brave struggle for the right to self-determination, which was pledged to them by the international community through several United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Charge d’Affaires emphasized that in the last seven decades, fundamental human rights of Kashmiri people have been violated through abductions, incarceration at undisclosed locations, indiscriminate use of pellet guns, and extra-judicial killings. This is clearly Indian state-terrorism against innocent Kashmiris. There is also no example of the military siege, lockdown and communication blockade that India has employed on Kashmiris since 5 August 2019. And now India is attempting to change the demography of the territory through a sinister design to convert the Muslim majority into a minority. This is being done in violation of international law, particularly the 4th Geneva Convention, he added.
He stressed that Pakistan will remain steadfast in its solidarity with the Kashmiri people until they get their legitimate right to self-determination, in accordance with the United Nations Charter and relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.
Mr. Qazi said under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pakistan has been actively highlighting the case of Kashmir at the international level, in an unprecedented manner.
He also commended the Pakistani and Kashmiri community living in France for standing up for their Kashmiri brethren by holding demonstrations and other events on all important occasions relating to Kashmir, showing solidarity with the oppressed people of IIOJ&K. Mr. Amjad Qazi also appreciated the role played by the French media in highlighting the sufferings of the people of IIOJ&K.
A documentary highlighting Indian atrocities in IIOJ&K was also screened on the occasion.
Eminent members of the Pakistani and Kashmiri community in France also expressed their views on the occasion and called upon the international community to ensure justice for the people of IIOJ&K.
Later, Charge d’Affaires inaugurated a photographic exhibition showing the plight of Kashmiris, who are under Indian military siege.
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Embassy of Pakistan
(France)
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Press Release
Kashmir Black Day observed in France
Paris; October 27, 2020: A special event was organized at the Embassy here today to observe the Kashmir Black Day. Members of French civil society and media as well as Pakistani community in Paris attended the event.
Charge d’Affaires, a.i. Mr. M. Amjad Aziz Qazi highlighted the significance of this day noting that 73 years ago Indian security forces landed in Srinagar to illegally occupy the territory and subjugate the people of Jammu and Kashmir in clear violation of international law and humanitarian norms. International media and human rights organizations continue to document the gross human rights violations committed by India in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Mr. Qazi especially highlighted the illegal actions of Indian government taken on August 5, 2019, under which the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was revoked. He also said that illegal and unilateral Indian actions are in violation of international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
He also stressed that Pakistan will continue to support the Kashmiris in their just struggle and legitimate right to self-determination, in accordance with international law, UN Charter and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
At the same time, a Photographic Exhibition was also held, in which photographs showing the plight of Kashmiris who are under Indian military siege were put on display. Photographs of a French journalist, Ms. Benedicte Van der Maar were also exhibited. Her photographs were taken last year during a visit to Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The photographs depicted the destruction and injuries suffered by civilians because of Indian shelling and ceasefire violations across the Line of Control.
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Embassy of Pakistan
(France)
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Press Release
Pakistan welcomes French investment, technology & expertise in agriculture sector: Syed Fakhar Imam
Paris; October 9, 2020: Pakistan has huge potential in the field of agriculture and agri-products and the country welcomes French investment, technology and expertise, in a mutually beneficial way. This was stated by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Syed Fakhar Imam in a webinar on the agriculture sector of Pakistan in which 25 French companies participated. The webinar was organized by the largest business federation of France, MEDEF in cooperation with the Embassy of Pakistan, Paris.
He said agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy as it not only provides food security to the people but also employment opportunities to a large percentage of population. In addition to modernizing agriculture we also want to develop related sectors like fisheries, livestock, processing of fruits, meat production and dairy as well as organic farming, he added.
In his introductory remarks, Mr. Thierry Pfilmlin President Total Global Services, who is also President Pakistan-France Business Council, introduced MEDEF, as the largest employer federation in France which was established in 1998. It has more than 750,000 member firms, 90% of them being small and medium enterprises with fewer than 50 employees. Every year, MEDEF International organises a number of delegations of French business leaders with tangible projects to targeted countries, especially developing countries.
Mr. Muhammad Amjad Aziz Qazi, Charge d’Affaires a.i. Embassy of Pakistan Paris, praised the long-standing cooperation with MEDEF, adding there is huge potential in the agriculture sector to enhance mutual cooperation between the two countries. Agriculture is the mainstay of Pakistan’s economy and an important sector in French economy, he said, and Pakistan can benefit from French best practices in this sector.
Representative of French Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Mr. Sylvian Maestracci said that France is the world’s seventh largest agricultural producer, fourth largest agricultural exporter and EU’s leading agricultural power, accounting for about one-third of all agricultural land within the EU. More than half of French farms are primarily devoted to animal production, which account for 43% of France’s total agricultural produce equaling 25.7 billion Euros.
The participating French companies expressed keen interest in Pakistan‘s agricultural sector and sought information on various sub-sectors including dairy, animal husbandry, seed production, organic farming and forestation in which they could cooperate with Pakistan.
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Press Release
BIE trainers impart 2-day training to TDAP officials
Paris; September 29, 2020: The Bureau of International Exhibitions (BIE) started a two-day online interactive training of officials of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) covering all facets of BIE, preparing Pakistani officials to participate in the international expos including next year’s Dubai Expo in the most useful way.
In his opening remarks Mr. Dmitri S. Kerkentzes, Secretary General of the organization said BIE is an intergovernmental organization of 169 states which was created through a Convention relating to international exhibitions signed in Paris in November 1928. It arranges international expos and specialized expos all over the world.
He informed that this is the first capacity building program that BIE has designed for its member states. It took more than a year in designing the course and Pakistan is the first country to benefit from the newly designed modules, he informed.
Mr. Kerkentzes briefed the participants about BIE and outlined the theme of the training. He said that Expos are unique global events, which are among world’s largest gatherings, bringing together governments, businesses, international organizations, civil society, and the general public. Addressing themes of global concern, Expos maintain a high profile and credibility among international events.
Secretary TDAP Mr. Ahsan Ali Mangi said that TDAP’s role is to promote trade in Pakistan and assist local businesses in accessing international markets. He said the exchange of ideas and experiences would immensely help the country and its traders and manufactures to learn from international best practices.
Expressing his views in the inaugural session, Charge d’Affaires a.i. Mr. M. Amjad Aziz Qazi thanked BIE for arranging this training. We have always participated in BIE activities and played an important role in its various initiatives, he said.
Mr. Qazi said that with this training program a step has been taken towards cementing our already friendly ties and expressed the confidence that this will equip TDAP and its officers for effective participation in international Expos and Specialized World Expos. It will also help them organize their own events in a more professional manner, he added.
Pakistan has been an active member of BIE since becoming a member in 2007. Dr. Moin Wani, Commercial Counsellor of Pakistan Embassy in France is currently chairing the Rules Committee, which is one of the four committees of BIE. Prior to that he was heading BIE’s Information Committee.
Initially the BIE team had planned to go to Pakistan for this training but due to Covid-19 restrictions, it is now being conducted online, which has been divided into five segments relating to country branding, multilateral public diplomacy opportunities, participation procedure, developing a brand statement, impact evaluation of participation and Customs/Logistics, in addition to several others.
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2 Documentaries on mountaineering in Pakistan screened at a film festival in Paris
Paris; September 25, 2020: Two documentaries based on the expeditions of mountaineers and paragliders from France and Poland to the high mountainous areas of Pakistan were screened at a film festival in Paris, France on September 23-24.
The summer edition of the festival was held at Grand Rex cinema in Paris. Some of the mountain climbers and paragliders who went to Pakistan for their expeditions were also present on the occasion. The Embassy of Pakistan was represented by Charge d’Affaires a.i., Defence Attaché, Press Counsellor and Head of Chancery.
Lost in Karakoram, a 30-minute documentary regarding paragliding in Pakistan’s Karakoram Range. Directed by Damien Lacaze, Antoine Girard and Jeremie Chenal, the documentary regarded this area as one of the most beautiful mountain venues in the world. The film was based on French paragliders’ attempt to ascend the 7027-meter high Spantik peak.
The second documentary titled The Last Mountain is of 83 minutes duration. Directed by Darius Zaluski, the film is based on the 2018 K-2 expedition of Polish mountaineers. The documentary informed that K-2 is world’s only 8000+ meter peak that has never been climbed in the winter. During this challenging expedition, a couple of members of the Polish team went to rescue a French mountaineer Elizabeth Revol and her Polish teammate who were trapped on nearby Nanga Parbat.
Charge d’Affaires a.i. Mr. M. Amjaz Aziz Qazi held a meeting with the organizers of the festival Ms. Manon Grimwood and Mr. Cyril Salomon and said that Pakistan welcomes tourists from across the globe to visit the country which is gifted with epic landscapes and challenging mountain tops.
The organizers said that Pakistan is one of the key destinations for French mountaineers and people like to watch the breathtaking landscapes and beautiful mountains. They said these films were also shown in Switzerland, Denmark and Czech Republic as part of the same film festival. Screenings in other European countries were cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Embassy of Pakistan
(France)
***
Press Release
Euro currency added to Roshan Digital Account
Paris; September 4, 2020
The State Bank of Pakistan has allowed overseas Pakistanis to open Roshan Digital Account in Euro currency as well.
At the launching ceremony of Roshan Digital Account held at the Embassy of Pakistan Paris, on 18th August 2020, members of the Pakistani community in France asked for the facility in Euro also, in addition to Pak Rupee and US Dollar. This request was conveyed to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to which SBP has consented.
Overseas Pakistanis can use the following links to learn more about opening Roshan Digital Account at various Pakistani banks:
HBL https://www.hbl.com/hblhumwatanaccountdigital
MCB https://mopss.mcb.com.pk, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA70mDSi0pE
UBL https://ubldigital.com/NRP-Services/Digital-OPS-Account-Opening
Meezan https://digitalservices.meezanbank.com/OAOF/
SAMBA https://www.samba.com.pk/samba/resources/digital-account-opening-application-overseas-pakistanis
Faysal Bank https://digionboard.faysalbank.com/
Bank Alfalah https://ips.bankalfalah.com/ops/
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Embassy of Pakistan
(France)
***
Press Release
Run for Kashmir and Roshan Digital Account launched in Paris
Paris; August 19, 2020: An event was held at the Embassy of Pakistan here today to launch Run for Kashmir tele-marathon cellphone application and Roshan Digital Account. Members of Pakistani and Kashmir community in Paris and officers of the embassy attended the event.
While explaining the concept behind the app Charge d’Affaires Mr. M. Amjad Aziz Qazi said that virtual Run for Kashmir is a global humanitarian effort aimed at creating awareness about the atrocities being committed by the Indian occupation forces in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
He said IIOJK has been under the Indian military siege and its status has unilaterally been changed by the Indian government. Our small steps counted by this app will go a long way in giving our Kashmiri brethren a ray of hope that people living across the world are behind their cause, he added.
Mr. Qazi invited members of the Pakistani and Kashmiri diaspora to form teams and take part in this effort while ensuring following social distancing guidelines in order to slow the spread of Covid-19 virus.
A presentation was also given on the Run for Kashmir app.
While introducing the Roshan Digital Account, Charge d’Affaires said that this would usher in a new era in banking in Pakistan. He regarded it a major initiative of the State Bank of Pakistan, which would provide innovative banking solutions to millions of overseas Pakistanis, allowing them to undertake banking, payment and investment activities in Pakistan.
Mr. Qazi said the Roshan Digital Account will integrate the Pakistani diaspora fully into the Pakistani banking and digital payments system providing them access to all conventional account services, including funds transfer, bill payments for their families, e-commerce and other payments in Pakistan in addition to investing in stock market and fixed deposit products offered by banks.
Country Manager of National Bank of Pakistan in France, Mr. Mohammad Yaqoob apprised the participants of the account opening and operation details.
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Photo caption: Charge d’Affaires Mr. M. Amjad Aziz Qazi briefing members of Pakistani and Kashmiri community about Run for Kashmir cellphone app and Roshan Digital Account at Pakistan Embassy Paris, France on August 19, 2020.
Ambassade du Pakistan
France
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Communiqué de presse
Lancement du compte numérique ‘Run for Kashmir’ et Roshan Digital à Paris
Paris, 19 août 2020
Un événement a eu lieu aujourd’hui à l’ambassade du Pakistan pour lancer l’application de télé marathon ‘Run for Kashmir’ sur téléphone portable et le compte numérique Roshan. Des membres de la communauté pakistanaise et cachemirie à Paris et des officiels de l’ambassade ont assisté à l’événement.
En expliquant le concept de l’application, M. M. Amjad Aziz Qazi a déclaré que la course virtuelle pour le Cachemire est un effort humanitaire mondial visant à sensibiliser aux atrocités commises par les forces d’occupation indiennes dans le Jammu-et-Cachemire illégalement occupé par l’Inde (IIOJK).
Il a déclaré que l’IIOJK était sous le siège militaire indien et que son statut avait été unilatéralement modifié par le gouvernement indien. Nos petits pas comptés par cette application contribueront grandement à donner à nos frères cachemiris une lueur d’espoir que les gens vivant à travers le monde soutiennent leur cause, a-t-il ajouté.
Une présentation a également été faite sur l’application ‘Run for Kashmir’.
Lors de la présentation du compte numérique Roshan, M. Charge d’Affaires a déclaré que cela ouvrirait une nouvelle ère dans le domaine bancaire au Pakistan. Il considère qu’il s’agit d’une initiative majeure de la State Bank of Pakistan, qui fournira des solutions bancaires innovantes à des millions de Pakistanais d’outre-mer, leur permettant d’entreprendre des activités bancaires de paiement et d’investissement au Pakistan.
Le directeur de la Banque nationale du Pakistan en France, M. Mohammad Yaqoob, a informé les participants des détails de l’ouverture et du fonctionnement du compte.
EMBASSY OF PAKISTAN TO FRANCE
PRESS SECTION
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PRESS RELEASE
Pakistan diaspora of France urged to remember oppressed Kashmiris of IIOJ&K during Eid ul Adha prayers
Paris 31st July, 2020. Charge D’Affaires a.i. Embassy of Pakistan, Paris Mr. Muhammad Amjad Aziz Qazi has extended his warm wishes to Pakistani diaspora in France on the occasion of Eid ul-Adha.
In a message issued today, Mr. Qazi called upon the community members to celebrate this Eid while observing health safety guidelines of the French government on coronavirus pandemic.
He urged them to demonstrate solidarity and support with Kashmiris in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, whose fundamental human rights are being grossly violated by the Indian security forces, with even greater intensity after the military siege imposed on the region since August 5 last year.
He also said that Pakistan’s government and its people remain fully committed to the Kashmir cause. Pakistan will continue to extend diplomatic, political and moral support to the Kashmiris in their demand for self-determination in accordance with the resolutions of United Nation Security Council. Pakistan will also remain the voice of conscience in the world for the rights of Kashmiris brothers and sisters.
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