ISLAMABAD: Mauritius Ambassador to Pakistan Mansoor Karim Bakhsh has stressed the need for further strengthening trade, investment, cultural and people-to-people ties between Pakistan and Mauritius, saying there is vast potential for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

Speaking to the media during his visit to the National Press Club (NPC) Islamabad under its “Meet the Press” programme, the ambassador said Mauritius was an island nation with a population of around 1.2 million. The country gained independence in 1968 and became a republic in 1992.

He said education was free in Mauritius and the country had focused particularly on tourism since the 1980s, making the sector an important pillar of its economy. Besides tourism, information technology and manufacturing were also among the key sectors of the Mauritian economy.

Mansoor Karim Bakhsh said Pakistan and Mauritius had considerable opportunities to enhance bilateral trade and investment. “Both countries can benefit from expanding economic cooperation,” he said, adding that greater public awareness about each other was also needed.

The ambassador said he had been serving in Pakistan since 2024 and had developed a positive impression of the country. He described Pakistanis as highly hospitable, loving and friendly, saying he had never felt like a stranger in Pakistan.

Sharing details of his educational and professional background, he said he had studied social work and business administration and had remained associated with education, the social sector and trade union activities. Diplomacy was relatively new to him, he said, but he believed thorough research was essential before taking up any new responsibility.

Mansoor Karim Bakhsh said he had held meetings with officials of Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce and discussed possibilities for a free trade arrangement between the two countries. He said Mauritian authorities were keen to attract Pakistani investors and also wanted to expand investment and business links in Pakistan.

He said his priorities included promoting business-to-business contacts, student exchanges, tourism and educational cooperation between the two countries. A seminar focusing on youth was also planned for September, while contacts were being maintained with the Higher Education Commission and other relevant institutions.

The ambassador said students from several countries, particularly African states, came to Mauritius for education. Pakistani students could also benefit from higher education opportunities there, he said, adding that he would seek further information and statistics on available opportunities and share them with Pakistani students.

Referring to his longstanding interest in Pakistan, he said he had always been interested in learning Urdu and had maintained a close connection with Pakistan for many years. Pakistan was generally mentioned with love and respect in Mauritius, he said, adding that positive sentiments existed there towards Pakistani culture and people.

Responding to questions from journalists, Mansoor Karim Bakhsh said he had also been associated with politics and contested elections in 2019, but was unsuccessful. He later embarked on a diplomatic career. Before entering politics, he said, he had focused on achieving financial and professional stability.

He also highlighted possibilities for cooperation between Pakistan and Mauritius in combating drug abuse and trafficking. He said the two countries could benefit from sharing experiences, particularly in awareness, prevention and related measures.

Quoting Allama Muhammad Iqbal and referring to cultural exchange as a long-standing aspiration, the ambassador expressed his commitment to further strengthening cultural, educational, commercial and people-to-people relations between Pakistan and Mauritius.

On the occasion, NPC President Abdul Razzaq Sial said Pakistan and Mauritius enjoyed friendly relations and described Mauritius as an attractive tourist destination. He said Pakistani media could play an important role in highlighting the country’s tourism potential.

He said the purpose of inviting the Mauritian ambassador to the NPC was to brief journalists about bilateral relations, tourism, trade and investment opportunities. He expressed hope that the programme would encourage Pakistani journalists and citizens to learn more about Mauritius and visit its tourist destinations.

NPC Secretary Dr Furqan Rao said the media had an important role to play in further strengthening relations between Pakistan and Mauritius. He urged the Mauritian envoy to facilitate the visa process for Pakistani citizens so that people, students, businesspersons and tourists from both countries could interact more easily.

Dr Furqan Rao said the NPC was ready to contribute towards promoting tourism, culture and people-to-people contacts between Pakistan and Mauritius. He said Pakistan, particularly its northern areas, offered immense tourism opportunities and there was also a need to introduce Pakistan’s scenic beauty to the people of Mauritius.

At the conclusion of the programme, the National Press Club presented a commemorative shield to Ambassador Mansoor Karim Bakhsh.