Islamabad (GNP): Korean Ambassador Han Sungho hosted a reception at his residence in Islamabad to mark Korea’s National Foundation Day and Armed Forces Day.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry was chief guest. Investment Minister Qaisar Ahmed Sheikh and Minister of State for Law and Human Rights Barrister Aqeel Malik also attended.
Many parliamentarians, diplomats, officials, businesspeople and media representatives were present. Among the lawmakers were MNAs Isphanyar Bhandara and Farah Naz Akbar and Senator Sehar Kamran.
Han Sungho welcomed the guests and spoke of the friendly and growing relationship between Pakistan and Korea, expressing confidence that cooperation will strengthen further in the years ahead.
He noted that the two countries have had 43 years of diplomatic relations based on trust, friendship and cooperation, though the bond of “Dosti” is older, reflecting Pakistan’s early support for the Korean people. Korea, he said, is grateful and committed to deepening the partnership.
The Korean Embassy and Korean agencies, including KOTRA, KOICA, KOPIA, KHA and HRD Korea, continue to promote trade, development cooperation, cultural exchange and human resource development, working in the spirit of “Korea One Team” toward a stronger, more forward-looking relationship.
He also mentioned this year’s celebration of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, and welcomed Pakistani students’ growing interest in the Korean language as a sign of closer cultural ties.
He described the inauguration of the Islamabad IT Park, now renamed Daanish IT Park, as another milestone, hoping it will support young talent, strengthen the IT sector and create opportunities for both countries.
Thanking the guests, he said the evening featured Korean cuisine, cultural performances by Pakistani friends and a showcase of Korea’s advanced defence industry and technology.
Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry congratulated the government and people of Korea and praised the country’s transformation into a global economic and technological power.
He said Pakistan attaches great importance to its ties with Korea and values its experience in industrial development, innovation, infrastructure, skills and human resource development, seeing considerable room for more cooperation and knowledge-sharing.
He expressed Pakistan’s wish to take the relationship to new heights, especially through stronger economic and investment cooperation and business-to-business links. He also thanked Korea for the development assistance provided through KOICA, which he said has supported Pakistan’s development and institutional capacity-building.
The minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening the partnership, noting growing scope for cooperation in trade, investment, technology, education and human resource development.
Kukkiwon, the World Taekwondo Headquarters operating under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea, has dispatched Taekwondo Master SeongOh Choi to Pakistan to promote and develop the sport of Taekwondo.
Master Choi also serves as the Head Coach of Pakistan’s National Taekwondo Team, contributing his expertise and experience to the training of Pakistani athletes, enhancing their technical skills, and supporting the further development of Taekwondo in Pakistan. His role reflects the continued cooperation between Korea and Pakistan in sports development and cultural exchange, further strengthening the longstanding friendship between the two countries through Taekwondo.
The event offered a chance to celebrate the long friendship between the two countries, reaffirm mutual respect and stress the importance of cooperation in shared areas of interest. Pakistan, the occasion underlined, looks forward to enhancing diplomatic ties, economic collaboration and people-to-people connections.
Also read: Pakistan, Maldives sign 20 MoUs to strengthen bilateral ties
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
