The rising Pak- Hungarian cooperation

The rising Pak- Hungarian cooperation

Dr. Jassim Taqui

In a pleasant surprise, the Ambassador of Hungry Istvan Szabo disclosed the depth of Pakistan-Hungry relations. He outlined the secret of the past that helped build and sustain these relations.

Ambassador Massod Khan, the Director General of ISSI along with Chairman of ISSI Ambassador Khalid Mahmood and a large number of diplomats and intellectuals were in attendance.

Supplementing, Ambassador Szabo in highlighting the Hungarian investment in Pakistan were Ali Murtaza Abbas, MOL Oil, and Gas Company in Pakistan and Afzaal Akhtar, Head Business support of MOL. 

Szabo maintained that the bilateral relations between Hungary and Pakistan were friendly and based on trust and mutual respect.

The feature of the relation is the investment of MOL in exploring oil and gas in KP province. During the last ten years, MOL invested over 2 billion euros.

On foreign relations, the two countries are pursuing multilateral diplomacy and taking measures to ensure regional peace and security.

Although diplomatic relations were established on November 26, 1965, Hungary opened its embassy in Islamabad in 1970. Similarly, Pakistan opened its Embassy in Budapest. However, the relations dated back to 1956. Pakistan played a significant role in the Hungarian struggle for independence.

Szabo proposed mutual visits on a summit level to further strengthen the relations between Budapest and Islamabad.

Szabo was not satisfied with the volume of trade, which does not reflect the excellent relations between the two countries. In 2015, Pakistan exports to Budapest were 90.5 million euros while Hungarian export to Pakistan stood at 82.5 million euros.

Szabo also highlighted Hungarian assistance to Pakistan in various fields including the donation of half million euros for the victims of 2005 earthquake in Pakistan and similar assistance to the flood affected areas in the 2010-2011 floods in Pakistan.

The two countries cooperate in the fields of education and defence. In 2013 and 2015, Hungarian cultural troupe performed in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore. Szabo suggested more cultural cooperation to bring the two peoples closer to each other.

In the field of education, Hungry offered Pakistani students 80 scholarships. This number will increase to 200 next year.

Ambassador Khalid Mahmood said in his remarks that the fact Hungary invested 2 billion euros shuttered the notion that Pakistan was not safe for investment.

Following Questions and answers session, Ambassador Masood Khan delivered his concluding remarks in which he foresaw further cooperation between the two countries in all fields.