Soomro for exploration of new markets for products
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—The Chairman Senate Mohammedmian Soomro has said that in today’s globalized world economic dimension of diplomacy and foreign policy has become very significant and no country can afford to lose sight of the aspect.
Talking to Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir here at his office, he asked the embassies and foreign missions to explore new markets for Pakistani products abroad.
He said the local manufactures, businessmen and entrepreneurs should try to meet those demands by timely supplying quality goods.
He particularly called for activating the office of Commercial Counselors and Attaches to remain in contact with the private sectors in the countries of their posting.
Soomro said that public-private partnership is the new paradigm all over the world. “We should also conform to this arrangement.”
The Chairman Senate emphasized that there should be a direct linkage between Pakistani missions abroad and the Chambers of Commerce and Industry back home.
He said there is still a great scope for further widening of Pakistani economic relation with other countries especially with China.
He said “We have got very able and talented people in our foreign service. However, there is a need to re-orient them by periodically organizing refresher courses especially in economic and trade diplomacy.”
Salman Bashir informed the Chairman Senate that there are well-established institutes in China in almost each and every field, which are being manned by veterans of that particular field and they provide invaluable guidance and input to their government on the subject.
By following the guidelines provided by these institutes, he said, China has revolutionalised its trade, commerce, industry and agriculture.
The Chairman endorsed the idea of having such institutes in Pakistan too so that the experience of the veterans would not go waste and remained in use for the country and the people.
The Chairman Senate also emphasized the need for adopting objective and current evaluation techniques to assess suitability of senior public servants for higher positions.
He also observed that the Overseas Pakistanis could be a rich source e of investment, which must be tapped.