Pakistan’s former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has said that Pakistani people still hold deep affection for their Bangladeshi brothers.
“Pakistani people still hold deep affection for their Bangladeshi brothers. Now is the right time to enhance mutual closeness between the two countries,” Sharif said when Religious Affairs Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain met him at Nawaz Sharif’s residence in Lahore on Monday.
During the meeting Sharif, who is also the president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), praised Bangladesh’s rapid economic progress. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was also present in the meeting, according to a press release issued by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Religious Affairs.
The meeting discussed various issues of mutual interest between the two countries. Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan Iqbal Hossain Khan also attended the meeting.
The religious affairs adviser said that Bangladesh wants to strengthen all forms of relations with Pakistan, requesting Punjab’s support for Bangladesh in agriculture, and technology and through scholarships in the field of education.
Punjab’s Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said that relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan have been built on a foundation of brotherhood across generations and borders, emphasising that trade and direct connectivity will further strengthen these ties.
Punjab’s chief minister praised Bangladesh’s garment industry, microcredit initiatives, and women’s inclusion in various sectors.
Maryam Nawaz assured cooperation in areas including green energy and expressed readiness to welcome partnerships between Punjab and Bangladesh in flood management and agriculture.
She affirmed her commitment to transforming the friendship between the two countries into a lasting partnership for regional peace and prosperity.
