Pakistan calls for more people-to-people contact with SL

Pakistani High Commissioner Major General Umar Farook Burki said that his country is keen on establishing people-to-people contact between the people of Pakistan and the people of Sri Lanka.

The Envoy was speaking at a charity event in Colombo on Monday at the YMMA auditorium, where the Mission distributed dry rations to needy people of all faiths.

The event was channelled through Colombo Times, a popular news website in Sri Lanka.

Major General Burki distributed the gift packs to the beneficiaries.

Those present included Counselor, Consular Affairs Faisal Ali Khan, Press Attache Kulsoom Jailani and R. Khan from the Pakistan High Commission, Chief Editor of Colombo Times Mohammed Rasooldeen, All-Ceylon YMMA Conference President Saheed M. Rismy, Young Women’s Muslim Association President Fawaza Thaha and Khalid M. Farouk, former president of the YMMA Conference.

Last week, the High Commission gifted a total of 14 sewing machines to single mothers and widows. The Envoy said he initiated the programme to help deserving people at these difficult times in Sri Lanka.

Speaking further, High Commissioner Burki said: “Efforts must be made to uplift the living standards of the women and enable them to do their part in making society a better place for our future generations. Napoleon once said, ‘Give me good mothers and I will give you a good nation’.”

“Investing in women now is actually an investment in our future economic progress. Empowering women sets a direct path towards poverty eradication and economic growth of society as a whole. Women make enormous contributions to the economy, whether in businesses, on farms, as entrepreneurs or employees, or by doing unpaid care work at home.”

Speaking on Lanka–Pakistan relations, Burki said that the relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka stand firmly on the pillars of mutual trust, respect, and desire to promote friendship.

He pointed out that this relationship is independent of any compulsions.

Mohammed Rasooldeen said that he was glad that the gifts were channelled through the Colombo Times which has a social obligation to serve the Sri Lankan community, irrespective of race or religion.