Pakistan–Switzerland relations
![]() | |
![]() Pakistan |
![]() Switzerland |
---|
Pakistan and Switzerland maintain a bilateral relationship.[1][2][3] Pakistan has an embassy in Bern, whereas Switzerland has embassy in Islamabad and a Consulate-General in Karachi.
Bilateral agreements
[edit]Pakistan and Switzerland have signed several agreements, which include an agreement on the reciprocal promotion and protection of investments, the avoidance of double taxation, air traffic, technical and scientific cooperation.[4]
Economic relations
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Routeabdussalam.png/220px-Routeabdussalam.png)
Both countries share over six decades of friendship, and have cooperated closely in several fields.[3] Switzerland ranks fifth in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Pakistan and a reliable trading partner, the Swiss-based multinational companies have invested 1.2 billion dollars in Pakistan, in various sectors including food processing, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, machinery and engineering, banking. thus providing jobs for over 10,000 Pakistanis. Recently,[when?] the Swiss Business Council has also opened in Karachi. Switzerland has been a keen observer at meetings of the Friends of Pakistan.[2][3] Currently, there are a small number of Pakistani scientists who work at CERN in Geneva.
Swiss Pakistanis
[edit]Pakistanis form one of the largest immigrant communities in Switzerland, numbering about 3,000, living predominantly in Zurich, Basel and Bern.[5]
Baluchistan posters
[edit]In September 2017, posters stating "Free Baluchistan" were advertised in parts of Geneva. The posters appeared to be sponsored by Balochistan House, a group of exiled Baloch separatists, with proved ties to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). The BLA is banned as a terrorist organisation by Pakistan, the United Kingdom, United States and others.[6] The posters drew sharp condemnation and rebuke from Islamabad, which summoned the Swiss ambassador to lodge a protest and urged authorities there to investigate the incident, take action against the accomplices, and prevent a recurrence.[6][7] Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Farukh Amil, in a letter to Swiss authorities added that the "use of Swiss soil by terrorists and violent secessionists for nefarious designs against Pakistan and its 200 million people is totally unacceptable" and was a matter of "grave concern".[6][8][9]
See also
[edit]- Foreign relations of Pakistan
- Foreign relations of Switzerland
- Kidnapping of Swiss tourists in Balochistan
References
[edit]- ^ "Informatoin missing. - PakTribune". Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2011-05-12.
- ^ a b "Switzerland ranks 5th for FDI in Pakistan | the Nation". Archived from the original on 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2011-05-12.
- ^ a b c [1] [dead link]
- ^ "Bilateral relations Switzerland–Pakistan". Eda.admin.ch. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-05-24. Retrieved 2017-11-24.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b c Siddiqui, Naveed (18 September 2017). "Pakistan's UN representative asks Swiss authorities to take action against 'Terrorists' posters". Dawn. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- ^ Khan, Iftikhar A. (21 September 2017). "Swiss ambassador be asked to leave Pakistan: Rabbani". Dawn. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- ^ "In Geneva, posters of Baloch terror group draw ire of Pakistani envoy". The Express Tribune. September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
- ^ "Pakistan protests with Swiss govt over 'Free Balochistan' posters". The Nation. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
External links
[edit]- Switzerland looking for more inroads in Pakistan
- Growth continues in Pakistan’s exports to Switzerland in 2007