Pakistan, Poland vow to deepen cooperation across various sectors

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Pakistan and Poland on Thursday pledged to strengthen cooperation in a number of sectors – including trade, defence, energy, technology, education and fintech – as the two countries look to deepen their bilateral partnership.

This commitment was expressed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs K. Raduslaw Sikorski during a joint press conference in Islamabad.

Both sides expressed satisfaction over the positive momentum of Pakistan-Poland relations and emphasized the need to further explore the untapped potential in various fields.

“We have more than a billion dollars in bilateral trade, and both sides agreed that there is tremendous potential to further expand trade and economic cooperation. […] DPM Dar said, “We have signed a memorandum of understanding today envisaging regular bilateral consultations.

He said that Pakistan can benefit a lot from Poland’s oil and gas expertise, and a leading Polish company has already invested nearly half a billion dollars in Pakistan.

To institutionalize the dialogue, Dar said the two countries signed two memorandums of understanding (MUS), one to establish regular bilateral consultations between their respective ministries, and the other to promote cooperation between think tanks the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) and the Polish Institute of International Affairs.

He recalled the historical ties between Pakistan and Poland, dating back to World War II, when thousands of Polish refugees found refuge in Karachi and Quetta. He also paid tribute to Polish pilots and engineers, especially Air Commodore Władysław Torowicz, for their role in establishing the Pakistan Air Force.

“His story is a monument to the values ​​of sacrifice, dignity and honor,” Dar said, adding that Pakistan views Poland as an important partner both bilaterally and within the European Union.

He also congratulated Poland on its economic progress, noting its emergence as a trillion-dollar economy, and praised its successful term as president of the Council of the European Union earlier this year.

He thanked Poland for supporting Pakistan’s election to the UN Security Council with 182 votes.

Dar received Warsaw’s continued support for the renewal of the country’s GSP Plus status in the EU, which is due in 2027.

“GSP Plus is a win-win arrangement for both Pakistan and the EU, as it contributes to sustainable development, good governance and poverty alleviation,” he noted.

Responding to a question on GSP Plus, Dar said: “We have implemented 27 conventions after agreeing to GSP Plus. Four reviews have already been done.

“And the fifth review is in the near future. We are fully prepared for the fifth review. And, we look forward to Poland’s support.”

DPM Dar reiterated Pakistan’s principled position on Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), and emphasized its resolution in line with UNSC resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

He also raised concerns about the presence of Fitnah-ul-Khawarij and Fitnah-ul-Hindistan militant elements in Afghanistan and emphasized the importance of strengthening multilateralism and adherence to the UN Charter.

Sikorski reiterated Poland’s support for a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and welcomed recent efforts to free hostages and prisoners.

“Poland has recognized Palestine for decades and believes that both peoples deserve to live in dignity and peace,” he said.

Prime Minister invites Polish companies to Pakistan

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has invited Polish companies to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan, particularly in the energy, mining and information technology sectors.

He was talking to Polish FM Sikorsky, who paid him a courtesy call in Islamabad today. DPM Dar, Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Poland Sami Malik also attended the meeting.

Shahbaz expressed Pakistan’s desire to further expand bilateral cooperation in trade, energy, defence, education, labor and other areas of mutual interest. Regional and international developments, including peace efforts in the Middle East and Ukraine, were also discussed.

He conveyed Poland’s warm regards to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and extended his invitation to pay an official visit to Pakistan, at his earliest convenience.

Sikorski expressed Poland’s strong interest in deepening its engagement with Pakistan in diverse fields.

Sharing this Polish investment in Pakistan’s petrochemical sector was over $0.5 billion, suggesting that Pakistan could also benefit from Polish expertise in water treatment. He also appreciated Pakistan’s role in promoting regional peace and stability.

Both sides agreed to expand contacts to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries.