ZANGILAN: Pakistan’s for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Muhammad Sami Saeed, has once again affirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan. He emphasized the enduring economic cooperation and friendship between the two nations during his statement to the media after the inauguration of the second Azerbaijan National Urban Forum and the global observance of World Habitat Day-2023.
Planning Minister reaffirms Pakistan's support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, sovereignty #RadioPakistan #News https://t.co/XiOziOo1wn pic.twitter.com/lTeBFG2aiW
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) September 30, 2023
This event, part of the Azerbaijan Urban Week, was organized by the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of the Republic of Azerbaijan in partnership with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) under the theme “Resilient cities as a driving force of economic development and fighting inequalities.”
Minister Sami Saeed declared, “The Government of Pakistan and its people fully support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan and express solidarity with Azerbaijan.”
The primary objective of the forum is to discuss various urban challenges, collaborative approaches for regional resilience and sustainable development, strategies for action, international collaboration, and opportunities.
It’s worth noting that the first National Urban Forum was held in Aghdam, one of Azerbaijan’s liberated territories, which had suffered extensive destruction. Subsequently, massive reconstruction efforts have been underway in Aghdam. The second forum is taking place in Zangilan, another region undergoing comprehensive reconstruction along with the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.
Pakistan-Azerbaijan Relations
Minister Sami Saeed commended the government of Azerbaijan for successfully hosting the 2nd National Urban Forum, which has played a pivotal role in the reconstruction of devastated cities. He acknowledged the positive trajectory of Pakistan-Azerbaijan relations and expressed the intent to strengthen ties in various sectors, including trade, connectivity, energy, tourism, and information technology.
During his visit, the minister held discussions with Anar Guliyev, the Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of Azerbaijan, exploring avenues for collaboration between the two countries. Minister Sami Saeed highlighted Pakistan’s Resilient, Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Framework (4RF) for the 2022 floods, emphasizing its importance in building resilient infrastructure.
Furthermore, the minister engaged with counterparts from Kyrgyzstan and Cambodia to discuss mutual interests. He also visited the Agali Smart Village and School in Zangilan, where he interacted with students and received briefings on the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts following the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the city.
