Islamabad: Religious Affairs Adviser Dr. A F M Khalid Hossain paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif this morning at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad. Welcoming Dr. Khalid Hossain and his delegation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted the historic, cultural, and fraternal bonds between Pakistan and Bangladesh, expressing hope for further strengthening of these ties.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif referred to his meetings with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in New York and Cairo, praising Dr. Yunus’s leadership and contributions to poverty alleviation. He also appreciated the Chief Adviser’s desire to deepen ties between the two nations.
During the meeting, Dr. Khalid Hossain presented a letter from Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. In the letter, Professor Yunus expressed sympathy and condolences to the Government and people of Pakistan over the unprecedented floods, conveying solidarity with the affected families. He affirmed Bangladesh’s support, stating confidence in Pakistan’s resilience under the Prime Minister’s leadership.
The letter also conveyed Bangladesh’s readiness to provide support for relief and rehabilitation efforts if needed. Discussions included resuming direct air travel between Dhaka and Karachi, and enhancing educational cooperation through scholarships for student exchanges in various fields.
The Federal Government of Pakistan has already approved 500 scholarships for Bangladeshi students to pursue academic programs from Honors to PhD levels. Among others, notable attendees included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Yusuf Khan, and Bangladesh High Commissioner in Islamabad Md Iqbal Hossain Khan.