Piotr
OpaliĆski - Poland Ambassador
to Pakistan
Shamim
Mahmood – a Pakistani Christian advocate/journalist – has submitted some
interesting information on foreign relations between Pakistan and Poland
derived from Ambassador Piotr A. Opalinski.
**********************
Interview with the Polish Ambassador
By SHAMIM MAHMOOD
Sent 2/2/2019 11:43 PM
Talking to
the ‘Online News Agency’ in an exclusive interview, the Polish Ambassador Mr.
Piotr Opalinski said that the relations between Pakistan
and Poland
are ‘excellent and very cordial’. He pointed out both at the ongoing political
dialogue as well as enhancement of economic cooperation, especially in the
areas of energy and exploration of natural resources, in which Polish companies
have been engaged in Pakistan
since last 20 years. He said that Poland ’s vast expertise and long
tradition in coal mining, defence production, agriculture and food processing
offered new opportunities for the mutually beneficial cooperation in these
areas as well.
Ambassador
said, that Poland supported the inclusion of Pakistan in the GSP Plus by the European Union (EU) to grant non-reciprocal
preferential treatment to Pakistan’s exports. He emphasized that the
geographical location of Poland
in the exact centre of Europe made it very
suitable to become a hub for Pakistani products designed for the European
market. The bilateral trade volume in 2018 raised to about 500 million Euro.
The trade balance is in favour of Pakistani exports, mainly textiles (90
percent), with a relatively smaller share of leather products, sportswear,
foodstuff and surgical instruments.
Ambassador
Opalinski also said, in the area of development cooperation Poland was
directly working with Pakistani partners – local organisations capable of a
very efficient implementation of the projects. Some of the best examples of educational
projects supported i.e. by the Polish Embassy were the primary schools in Kaghan Valley and Bari Imam area of Islamabad.
They are providing quality education, counselling and medical care for the
children.
Answering a
question about visa policy, the Ambassador said it was based on the common Schengen Visa Code, as Poland, being one of 26 Schengen
Member States, issues the visas allowing for a border-free movement of
travellers in the whole area in all categories of travels – businessmen, tourists,
students etc. The available statistics indicate that the number of visitors
from Pakistan to Poland is
gradually increasing.
Talking
about the regional and international situation, the Ambassador appreciated Pakistan ’s role in the Afghan peace process and
its efforts in facilitating the talks between the US leadership and Taliban. Poland wholeheartedly supports peaceful
resolution of the protracted conflict in Afghanistan , to the benefit,
stability and development of the whole region.
Recollecting
his very good personal experiences of nearly ten years of diplomatic service in
Pakistan (first tenure as Deputy Head of Mission and now as Ambassador) Mr.
Piotr Opalinski said the Polish-Pakistani friendship, transcending through
different times and geographical distance was deeply-rooted in history and
time-tested. He referred to the memories of Polish refugees who were granted
shelter in Karachi during the World War and to the Polish
pilots, who made a great contribution to the development of the PAF and civil
aviation at the nascent stage of Pakistan’s statehood. He said, all
this, and more fascinating stories of Polish-Pakistani personal relations of
friendship, would be described in an excellent book "Freedom Under the
Pakistani Sky" by Polish author Mrs. Anna T. Pietraszek [Polish Wikipedia],
which is going to be launched in Pakistan later this year. Ends/
Be Blessed,
Shamim Mahmood
Diplomatic Correspondents
Daily Jinnah [Urdu]
Journalist, Blogger and Social Reformer
+92-300-642-4560
[Blog Editor: Shamim
also does Christian activism in Pakistan. It can be dangerous work in Islamic
Pakistan. Please consider a contribution. The last I heard services like PayPal
are not supported in Pakistan. The Western Union is a good way to send money
which will transfer into Pakistan Rupee - https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/send-money.html;
Shamim Mahmood; Islamabad; +92-300-642-4560.
+++++++++++
Blog Editor: This Facebook video should be of
interest in relation to Polish refugees helping to build the Pakistan Air Force
after WWII:
Edited by John R. Houk
Source links are by the Editor.
© Shamim Mahmood
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