PAKISTAN POST TO ISSUE SPECIAL POSTAGE STAMP MARKING THE HISTORIC VISIT OF PRESIDENT OF PAKISTAN TO NIGERIA

“Pakistan Postal Services is going to bring out a Commemorative Postage Stamp soon marking the historic visit of President of Pakistan, His Excellency Mamnoon Hussain to Nigeria on the invitation of Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan Ebele from 10th to 13th June this year which resulted in signing of various MOUs and Agreements in the areas of Agricultural and Industrial Cooperation, Cultural Exchange Programmes, Narcotics, and deepening (Businessman to Businessman)B-2-B contact between Chambers of Commerce of both the countries.

During the visit, President Mamnoon Hussain also inaugurated Commercial Office in Lagos to promote and enhance trade links between Nigeria and Pakistan. Besides holding Bilateral Talks with President Jonathan, Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain also charted the course of future closer cooperation in various fields such as military cooperation, counter terrorism strategies, combating organized crimes, trade, textiles production, pharmaceutical manufacturing and oil and gas. They further agreed to expand cooperation in agro-technical training; seed multiplication and processing of agricultural produce.

This was disclosed by State Minister for Pakistan Postal Services, Molana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri in a meeting with top Nigerian Businessmen, Chief Asiwaju I.O.A. Omomolesho and Chief Daniel Imuzie who called on him the other day and termed the year 2014 as “the culmination of Nigeria-Pakistan Diplomatic Relations”.

State Minister for Pakistan Postal Services, Molana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri also lauded the personal efforts of Ambassador Dauda Danladi, mni who devoted all his energies to boost trade between Nigeria and Pakistan. He said today the trade volume has raised from a paltry sum of $ 100 million US Dollar to $ 2 billion US Dollars since 2012.

He further stated that Pakistan attaches great importance to its diplomatic relations with Nigeria. He added that the issuance of special postage stamp will go a long way to further deepening bilateral trade and investment scale as well as people to people contact between Federal Republic of Nigeria and Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

State Minister for Postal Services also appreciated the beauty and design of the commemorative postage stamp designed by Chief Asiwaju I.O.A.Omomolesho as the stamp depicts both Pakistani President, Mamnoon Hussain and Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan addressing after a very productive meeting at Presidential Villa Abuja as this was the first ever High Level visit from Pakistani President to Nigeria after 3 decades as the Diplomatic Relations between Nigeria and Pakistan were established in 1960.

Chief Asiwaju I.O.A. Omomolesho and Chief Daniel Imuzie expressed their gratitude to the Government of Pakistan, Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Pakistan Postal Services from the whole Nigerian Diaspora in Pakistan for making the historic visit of Pakistani President to Nigeria after 3 decades through issuance commutative postage stamp.

Chief Asiwaju I.O.A. Omomolesho said that ever since Ambassador Dauda Danldi, mni came to Pakistan since 2012 as Nigeria's Principal Envoy to Pakistan, substantial improvements have taken a U-Turn in the area of Trade and Commerce between Nigeria and Pakistan.

He highlighted to State Minister Pakistan Postal Services that Ambassador Dauda Danladi, mni aggressively promoted the “Transformation Agenda” of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which captured the Foreign Policy thrust of Nigeria anchored on citizenship, economic diplomacy and the pursuance of global peace

He further added that Ambassador Dauda Danladi, mni established personal contacts with prominent businessmen and investors across Pakistan besides visiting almost all chambers of commerce in Punjab, Sindh, Balochisan and Khyber Pakhtoon Khua.(KPK) including Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI).

The result was manifested in the forty two Member Trade Delegation in various sectors which Ambassador Dauda Danladi, mni led to Nigeria from 25th August to 5th September, 2013. The visit covered some states located in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria including Abuja, the Federal Capital. The trade visit has created a huge market opportunities between the Nigeria business communities and their Pakistani counterparts raising the existing trading volume by 40% importantly, it has restored confidence through enhancing people to people contact under his dynamic leadership.

Chief Asiwaji I.O.A.Omomolesho quoted the words of Pakistani President, Mamnoon Hussain at the conclusion of his State visit to Nigeria at Lagos, “It is matter of great satisfaction that the total volume of our bilateral trade during 2012-2013 has more than doubled as compared to our trade in 2011-2012. This is in line with our vision of strengthening trade relation with Nigeria not only in the bilateral context but also in the context of the decision taken during the D-8 Summit.”

At the conclusion of the ceremony, State Minister for Pakistan Postal Services, Molana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri presented Pakistan Postage Stamp Albums to visiting Nigerian Businessmen, Chief Asiwaju I.O.A. Omomolesho and Chief Daniel Imuzie . Chairman/Director General, Pakistan Post, Mashal Khan, Additional Director General (Operations) Fazli Sattar Khan and other senior Postal Executives were also present on this occasion.

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
NIGERIAN HIGH COMMISSION
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN