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Paris, 10.12.2016. Concluding his official visit to Paris, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister met with French Finance Minister Michel Sapin yesterday. This was his second meeting with French counterpart in the last three months.

Minister Sapin congratulated the Finance Minister on joining the Open Government Partnership process. He also appreciated the ratification by Pakistan of the OECD Convention on Mutual Assistance on Tax Matters. The Finance Minister apprised him of the importance Pakistan attached to transparency in public matters and his intention to make Pakistan a member of OECD Convention against Bribery in due course.

The Finance Minister briefed Minister Sapin on the turnaround of Pakistan’s economy in the last three years, macroeconomic stability, and improvement of energy and security situation in the country, which has provided a conducive atmosphere for foreign direct investment. Mr. Sapin acknowledged Pakistan’s economic achievements and expressed hope that the journey towards further progress and development would continue.     

Both the Ministers also discussed trade, economic and investment relations between the two countries. While expressing satisfaction over the upward trajectory of bilateral relations, including decision by French automobile company Renault to start manufacturing vehicles in Pakistan, they emphasized the need to further strengthen ties through the institutional mechanism of Administrative, Economic and Trade Committee (AETC). They agreed, in principle, to upgrade AETC to Ministerial level. The Finance Minister invited Mr. Sapin to visit Pakistan to co-chair the next meeting of AETC. Prior to that, both sides would meet early next year at Secretary level to prepare the ground for the Ministerial meeting.

Secretary Economic Affairs Division and Ambassador of Pakistan to France were also present at the meeting.

The Embassy of Pakistan along with Pakistani community residing in Lyon participated in the festival. A large gathering of people from all walks of life participated in the event.

A Pakistani pavilion added color and marked our first participation in this grand event. The Ambassador inaugurated the event. Pictorial coverage of the event is published for information of all.

Pakistan strongly rejects unfounded accusations by India to deflect the world attention from its state terrorism in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Paris: 29 Sept; 2016: India has once again unleashed a reign of terror in Indian Occupied Kashmir since July this year. There has been a wide spread repression and excessive use of forced by the Indian Security forces in killing and maiming hundred and thousands of innocent Kashmiris including children and women. Over 150 persons have been completed blinded through indiscriminate use of pellet guns. The indigenous and spontaneous uprising of Kashmiris against Indian tyranny, demanding their just right of freedom and self-determination, will not be suppressed by brutal atrocities and horrific human rights violations perpetrated by the Indian occupation forces in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan strongly rejects unfounded accusations by India to deflect the world attention from its state terrorism in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
These views were emphatically underscored by the Special Envoys of the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Jammu and Kashmir, Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq and Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan, during their meeting today with French parliamentarians at the French National Assembly.
The Special Envoys urged France, being a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to play its due role in resolving the longstanding dispute of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiri people and UN Security Council resolutions. They stressed that international community should pressurize India to stop the bloodshed of innocent Kashmiris and resolve the dispute through a peaceful and meaningful dialogue with Pakistan and the Kashmiri people.
The envoys also met with the representatives of International Federation of human rights and medicines du monde and requested them for humanitarian and medical aid to the injured Kashmiris.

Paris, 25^th September, 2016. Paris University Club won the second edition of Jinnah Champions Trophy final after beating Dreux Cricket Club  by scoring 243 runs against 216 runs in a closely contested match held today at the Cricket Stadium of Dreux, a small town outside Paris.

Jinnah Champions trophy jointly organized by the Embassy of Pakistan and France Cricket (Official Cricket body of France) was the second such event after successful aunch of the inaugural edition of the “Champions League” T-20 Cricket tournament, under the title of Jinnah Trophy during summer of 2015.

The closely contested final match was witnessed by large number of foreign and local dignitaries, including senior diplomats from the cricket playing nations, senior officials from the French Ministry of Sports and the city administration.

French Women National team, President West Indies Cricket Board, President France Cricket and Chief Selector France Cricket also witnessed the final match.

The best teams of Division I, II and III of France Cricket participated in the event where Paris University Club and Dreux Cricket Club managed to reach the final. In all 24 teams participated in Jinnah Champions Trophy from all over France. The Group matches were started in May 2016

While playing first the Paris University Club scores 243 runs with the loss of four wicket while Mr. Ali Virk emerged top scorer with 95 runs. The Dreux Cricket club started its inning with a promising start but ended up scoring 216 runs. 

 Jinnah Trophy has become a symbol of Pak-French friendship and will prove a via media for promoting people to people contacts between Pakistan and France.

While speaking before the award giving ceremony the Ambassador Moin ul Haque said that Jinnah Trophy has become a symbol of Pak-French friendship and will prove a via media for promoting people to people contacts between Pakistan and France.

The Ambassador said that Pakistan has always been associated positively with the sport of cricket, especially in France where cricket is becoming increasingly popular.

He said that the aim of sponsoring this event was to highlight and promote the role of Pakistan in stimulating cricket in France and helping France in developing the sport of cricket.

Mayor of Dreux while speaking on the occasion thanked Ambassador of Pakistan for sponsoring the event and hoped that it would help to popularize cricket in France.

The ambassador of Pakistan in France Mr. Moin ul Haque was joined by the ambassador of Sri Lanka in Paris, France to give away Jinnah Trophy to the winning team.

Trophy was envisaged to be held for three years (initially) and is currently the most prestigious cricket tournament in the cricket circuit of France.

ICC representatives, the French Sports Ministry, French administration and French  cricket clubs also took active part in making the championship a resounding success.

Paris, September 23, 2016: A stall of Pakistani authentic food was thronged by people of many nationalities especially the French food lovers at the international food festival held at the banks river Seine in Paris, today.

The delicious food presentation was topped by live performance of Sufi music. Pakistan Qawal Mr. Riaz Javad accompanied by Mr Suhail mesmerized the visitors with their melodious Qawalies.

Over forty countries from around the world are taking part in the three day International Food Festival organized by the French Ministry of Economic, Industry and Statistics.

The Pakistani Stall was artistically adorned with traditional Pakistani handicrafts which provided added attraction for the visitors. 

The Ambassador of Pakistan Moin ul Haque who inaugurated the Pakistani Food Stall speaking on the occasion said that Pakistani’s participation in the event would help in promotion of Pakistan’s soft image. He appreciated the Pakistani chefs and the musicians for their contribution in making the Pakistan’s participation in the International Food Festival a resounding success.

Pakistan has made impressive economic gains in the last three years, characterized by macroeconomic stability, fiscal discipline, sustained growth rate, and record- breaking performance of its stock market

Paris, September 15, 2016: France is willing to bolster trade and economic ties with Pakistan and to mutually benefit from conducive investment environment in the country. Pakistan has made impressive economic gains in the last three years, characterized by macroeconomic stability, fiscal discipline, sustained growth rate, and record- breaking performance of its stock market. Pakistan can maintain high growth rates in the coming years with continuation of current policies. The achievements in the war against terrorism are equally laudable.

These views were expressed by Mr. Michel Sapin, French Minister for Finance, Economy and Industry in his meeting today in Paris with Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs. He congratulated Senator Ishaq Dar on presiding over the economic resurgence of Pakistan.

Senator Ishaq Dar told Mr. Sapin that Pakistan infused a number of bold structural economic and fiscal reforms together with stabilization measures to make the country’s economy stable. The positive trajectory has been acknowledged by renowned international economists and financial institutions, which are projecting Pakistan to be one of the top 20 economies of the world in the coming decades.

It is about time for Pakistan and France to step up their efforts to enhance the trade and economic ties between the two countries for the mutual benefit of their people.

He added that it is about time for Pakistan and France to step up their efforts to enhance the trade and economic ties between the two countries for the mutual benefit of their people. There is a need to explore new avenues for further cooperation in diverse areas including energy, agriculture, food processing, aviation, information technology, automobiles and engineering.

Noting with satisfaction that business communities of France and Pakistan are already engaged in negotiations on several projects, both the Ministers agreed to facilitate the businessmen and to significantly raise the current level of bilateral trade through joint efforts. They also agreed to discuss upgrading of the Administrative, Economic and Trade Committee to Ministerial level in the form of Joint Economic Commission.

Senator Ishaq Dar invited the French Finance Minister to visit Pakistan and see for himself the economic transformation going on in the country.

Paris, September 14, 2016: Pakistan became a signatory today to the OECD Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters. Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs signed the Convention along with Mr. Angel Gurria, Secretary General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in a dignified ceremony in Paris.

OECD invitation to Pakistan to sign the Convention was possible after a long process of over two years which included peer reviews and amendments in Pakistani domestic income tax laws to meet the requirements of OECD. It demonstrates Pakistan’s strong commitment to adopt international best practices in the field of tax matters and join the multilateral fight against tax evasion through mutual, auto and spontaneous exchange of information. The Convention, which is currently signed by over 80 countries, would facilitate international cooperation on national tax laws and provide administrative cooperation among member countries to combat tax evasion.

The Finance Minister also held a bilateral meeting with the OECD Secretary General to discuss ways and means to further strengthen the existing ties between Pakistan and the OECD. He conveyed Pakistan’s desire to become a key OECD partner country. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s determination to cooperate with the OECD on all important areas of mutual interest. He informed the Secretary General about the various economic and fiscal reforms undertaken by the government to stabilize Pakistan’s economy, and the increased budgetary support for health and education sectors. He also invited Secretary General to visit Pakistan.

The Secretary General congratulated the Finance Minister on historic signing of the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matter, and for his central role in economic turnaround in Pakistan in the last three years. He acknowledged that Pakistan has made great strides in economic field, which has deservedly received accolades from international financial institutions. He invited Pakistan to take part in various OECD global fora and meetings.

The OECD is an intergovernmental forum, which focuses on issues including trade, taxation, environment, technology and education. It has 35 member countries in Europe, Americas and Asia Pacific. Pakistan, though not a member of the OECD, has been regularly invited to participate in its various committee meetings.

Paris, September 12, 2016: Pakistan high end textile products displayed artistically was viewed and appreciated by thousands of participants, visitors and business persons in the 39th Edition of four day Texworld Exhibition being held in Paris, France from 12th September 2016.

Pakistan cotton and cotton based high end products which included apparels, garments and finished and unfinished associated products displayed by over 33 Pakistani renowned companies were one of the main attractions of the exhibition.

The businessmen who attended the exhibitions from over 26 countries visited the Pakistan stalls and showed keen interest in the high quality Pakistani textile products.

The Ambassador of Pakistan in Paris, France His Excellency, Moin ul Haque visited the exhibition and met with the organizers of the Pakistani exhibitors. He appreciated the businessmen and Pakistani companies which have participated in the exhibition in Paris France which is world’s tops fashion and apparel hub.

He said the introduction of the Pakistani high end and top quality textile products in Paris France will certainly help Pakistan in boosting its exports of textile and associated products not only to France but also to rest of Europe.

While taking to the media during his visit he said that current government of Pakistan has taken number of steps to give impetus to industry and trade and commence in the country.

He added that as result of the successful energy policy of the government, uninterrupted electricity and gas is being supplied to the industries along with unprecedented upgrading and construction of new road network which has given added impetus to growth and development of industry specially the textile industry in Pakistan.

He stressed the need for diversification of textile products and the textile markets with is view to add upon the profit margin and increase the value of the exports.

The Ambassador also advised the representative of TDAP and commercial councilor to extend all out assistance Pakistani exporters in their effort to promote textile export in France to the facilitate the Pakistan textile manufacturing and help them in establishing network with buyers in France and to improve the presentation and diversify the products being displayed in the exhibition in future.

The Texworld which is organized in Paris France twice in a year first in February and later in September every year cater to the entire market of Europe and is being participated by 1147 renowned textile related companies from around the world. .

Paris, September 13, 2016: Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization presented a strong case about Pakistan’s economic turnaround in the last three years, to a large gathering of senior executives of more than sixty leading French companies, who gathered this morning at a business and investment event hosted by MEDEF (Association of French Entrepreneurs) in his honor.

French businessmen are key to strengthen trade and economic linkages with Pakistan and take advantage of vast investment opportunities in all fields of the economy.

The Finance Minister is on an official visit to Paris, France accompanied by Dr. Miftah Ismail, MOS/Chairman Board of Investment and a business delegation. In his address at MEDEF, he gave an overview of Pakistan’s macroeconomic stability, acknowledgement by prestigious international financial institutions of the country’s achievements, improvement in law and order situation, and immense scope for business and investment opportunities in Pakistan. He urged the French businessmen to strengthen their trade and economic linkages with Pakistan and take advantage of vast investment opportunities in all fields of the economy.

Earlier, Dr. Miftah Ismail gave a presentation on investment opportunities in Pakistan, assuring the French business community of all the support to engage with Pakistan. Emphasizing Pakistan’s geo-starategic location and the positive impact on economy with the ongoing China –Pakistan Economic Corridor projects, he invited French companies to visit Pakistan and experience first-hand the available opportunities.

There was keen interest in the audience about Pakistan’s growing economic potential and its emergence as a hub of economic activity in South and Central Asia. The participants acknowledged the positive developments taking place in Pakistan and expressed interest in diverse areas like construction, agriculture, banking, aviation, transportation and electronics. MEDEF announced that it would take a French business delegation to Pakistan early next year.

The Finance Minister also held one on one business meeting with senior representatives of important French companies including SNCF (Railways) Airbus (aircraft manufacturer), Suez (energy and gas), Lazard (debt and asset management), CNIM (solutions in energy, environment and defense) and ADIT (consultancy). 

In the evening, Senator Ishaq Dar and Chairman BoI met with Mr. Francois Pupponi, President of France-Pakistan Friendship Group in the French National Assembly. Mr. Paul Giacobbi, Vice President of the Group was also present. The Finance Minister briefed them about the positive developments in Pakistan, since the present government took office in 2013, including economic stability and successful war against terrorism and extremism. He stressed that the friendship groups in the Parliaments of both the countries could play a pivotal role in bringing the two peoples together and enhancing trade and economic linkages. Both the French Parliamentarians expressed their desire to visit Pakistan later this year with a business delegation. They also appreciated the role of Pakistani diaspora in Pakistan, who are setting an example for other Muslim communities in France to live in a peaceful manner.