Pakistan and South Australia have explored the options to boost close relations in various domains including trade, tourism, health, education, parliamentary cooperation and environment whereas Australia has offered advance judicial courses for Pakistani judges.
The issues were discussed in detail during visit of Pakistan High Commissioner Babar Amin to South Australia earlier this week where he separately met with Chief Justice Chris Kourakis, the Deputy Governor of South Australia, Andrew McLachlan, President of the Legislative Council and the Vincent Tarzia, Speaker of the House of Assembly, David Ridgway, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, David Speirs, Minister for Environment, Amanda Mcllroy, Water, Chief Operating Officer, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and acting Vice-Chancellor of Adelaide University Prof Michael Brook.
In meeting with David Ridgway, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, High Commissioner briefed the Minister about trade and investment opportunities in Pakistan and urged him to encourage investors from South Australia to invest in Pakistan in the mining, gas, oil exploration and infrastructure development projects.
“Pakistan has provided trained work force in the I.T sector for the Silicon Valley, Microsoft and other I.T companies, Australia can also benefit from Pakistan by exploring Joint Ventures in these sectors”, he said.
Both sides discussed different aspects of cooperation between the two countries and the means of enhancing them especially in the domains of business, trade, investment and tourism.
While talking to David Speirs, Minister for Environment and Water, High Commissioner said Pakistan and Australia have developed a long-term partnership in agriculture, water management and other related fields which provides an excellent opportunity for collaboration in short and long-term training programmes for capacity building and technical support in the related fields.
They discussed different aspects of cooperation between the two countries and the means of enhancing them especially in the domains of water conservation and environment.
During call on with Chief Justice, Chris Kourakis, the Deputy Governor for South Australia, he briefed the Deputy Governor on the status of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Australia and the possibilities that exist for cooperation between South Australia and different provinces of Pakistan.
Deputy Governor said that, he firmly believes in the mutually beneficial cooperation with Pakistan in different fields and offered courses to Pakistani judges in the National Judicial College of Australia which is situated in South Australia.
High Commissioner Babar Amin during visit to South Australia also called on Andrew McLachlan, President of the Legislative Council and the Vincent Tarzia, Speaker of the House of Assembly of South Australia.
While expressing satisfaction at the longstanding friendly relations between Australia and Pakistan and said that Pakistan would like to further strengthen parliamentary and trade relations with the State of South Australia.
The High Commissioner also highlighted the contribution of the Pakistani diaspora in the socio-economic and political environment in Australia.
He informed both President and Speaker that a Pakistani Consulate in Melbourne has been opened last year to look after the consular needs of the Pakistani diaspora living in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.
“The Consulate is yet another milestone in the ever-growing relations between Pakistan and Australia”, he added.
Both the President of the Legislative Council and Speaker of the House of Assembly said that the Charter of the Commonwealth brings us together for upholding democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
They also appreciated the constructive role being played by the dynamic Pakistani Community in various spheres.
The High Commissioner also met with Amanda Mcllroy, the Chief Operating Officer, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute.
He urged the Chief Operating Officer to explore potential sectors and partners for joint medical research and other projects in Pakistan.
Amanda Mcllroy assured that, there are ample joint research opportunities with Pakistan in different fields and that her Institute would like to build long-term relations with the counterpart Institutes in Pakistan for the common benefit.
The High Commissioner Babar Amin, met the acting Vice-Chancellor of Adelaide University Prof Michael Brook in his office.
The High Commissioner lauded the commendable academic cooperation that exists between Pakistan and Australia.
He informed the acting Vice-Chancellor that Pakistan has over 13,000 students studying in Australia.
“Pakistan and Australia have developed a long-term partnership in higher education which provides an excellent opportunity for collaboration in research and short and long-term training programmes for capacity building”, he added.
