Press Release
The relationship between Nepal and Pakistan has always been cordial and friendly. The establishment of diplomatic relations in 1960 further enriched bilateral engagements and understandings. Both countries enjoy excellent bilateral relations based on goodwill, mutual trust, and cooperation.
Nepal and Pakistan celebrated the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2019. Both countries have similar views on many issues of common interests at various regional and international forums. Nepal opened its Embassy in 1962 in Karachi which was later shifted to Islamabad. Similarly, Pakistan has had its Embassy in Kathmandu since 1963.
Nepal and Pakistan relations were further strengthened by high-level interactions and people-to-people contacts. Bilateral trade, similar cultural and social values based on agrarian economy, tourism, mountaineering, and cooperation in education sectors, among others, have further enriched bilateral cooperation. Both countries are founders of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and have been working to promote regional cooperation.
Both Nepal and Pakistan have fragile eco-system. The Hindukush-Himalayan region is very prone to natural disasters. The region is a water tower in Asia that provides water to 3 billion people. Climate change has impacted the ecology of this region. Melting glaciers, changing agriculture patterns, and migration have impacted the livelihood of people and the recent flood in Pakistan is a living testimony of climate change in our region. Therefore, Nepal and Pakistan need to work together to mitigate the negative consequences of climate change.
The bilateral trade relations are very limited but it is increasing day by day. We are optimistic about recent positive trends after the Covid-19 pandemic on bilateral economic engagements and hope it will surpass the pre-covid level very soon. In 2020, Nepal exported goods of 100 million NRs and imported 1.04 billion Nrs. from Pakistan. The Embassy is committed to working with the business community in Pakistan towards further enhancing the bilateral trade relations between our countries.
Tourism is a niche product of Nepal and it is a hub of adventure tourism. Many Pakistani friends visit Nepal as tourists and Nepali and Pakistani mountaineers are working together on various mountaineering expeditions in Nepal or in Pakistan. The unavailability of a direct air link has hampered the large flow of tourists and once we could be able to re-connection air services, there is a high possibility of tourists flowing between Nepal and Pakistan.
Nepali and Pakistani mountaineers are working together on various expeditions sharing skills, knowledge, and techniques of mountaineering and expanding mountaineering in our countries. I believe continued cooperation between Nepali and Pakistani mountaineers will make a difference to both countries, making it the center of mountain and adventure tourism.
Pakistan with 220 million populations is a big market for tourism. Every year a large number of people visit different countries from Pakistan. Being in a neighborhood, with a simple visa regime, a friendly environment, and hospitable people, I believe Pakistani people will enjoy their visit to Nepal.
Pakistan has a rich cultural and religious heritage. It is the place where great religions and philosophies like Hinduism, Buddhism Sikhism, and Sufism were established or flourished. There are Buddhist artifacts scattered across Taxila valley, Takhta-i-Bahi, and in different areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other parts of Pakistan. Taxila used to be a center of learning and propagating Buddhism in different parts of the world. It shows that Buddhism had deeply rooted in these areas.
Buddhism is the fourth largest religion by the number of followers in the world and there are many Buddhist countries or countries influenced by the philosophy of Buddhism. Pakistan can tap these resources to promote friendship, brotherhood, and tourism as well as can generate employment and revenue by inviting Buddhist tourists.
The embassy of Nepal is happy to see the preservation of the Buddhist heritage in Pakistan despite being an Islamic country and I believe this is something the people of the world should know about.
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