ISLAMABAD The prestigious Diplomat Business Club has launched its Pakistan Chapter at an impressive ceremony held here under the leadership of its President Ambassador Javed Malik. The high-profile ceremony was graced by Federal Minister for Commerce Engineer Khurram Dastagir Khan, Special Assistant to PM on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry, says a press release on Thursday. Ambassadors representing more than 30 countries were present along with distinguished Pakistani business leaders, including the presidents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi Chambers of Commerce as well as senior representatives of FPCCI and Saarc Chamber of Commerce. A ten-member multinational business delegation that is visiting Pakistan to explore business, trade and investment opportunities was also present on the occasion which included delegates from United Arab Emirates, Canada, United Kingdom, Malaysia, Portugal, and United States. Addressing on the occasion, Khurram Dastagir Khan welcomed the launch of Pakistan Chapter the Diplomat Business Club and congratulated Ambassador Javed Malik for taking this important step that would pave the way of promotion of positive business and trade relations between Pakistan and other countries. Syed Tariq Fatemi also appreciated the formation of Diplomat Business Club"s Pakistan chapter in Islamabad. He expressed the confidence that this initiative led by Ambassador Javed Malik would open the doors for closer collaboration between businessmen and diplomats to explore further opportunities of mutual cooperation. He congratulated Ambassador Javed Malik for taking this initiative to bring the Diplomat Business Club to Pakistan, and proposed that it should be expanded in other major cities of Pakistan too. Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry also addressed the prestigious forum felicitated Ambassador Javed Malik for "taking this important initiative to launch the Diplomat Business Club in Pakistan." Addressing the audience he said that having known and worked with Ambassador Javed Malik in past, he has always found him to be a person with ability and dynamism who believes in "doing things". "He is a doer" remarked the foreign secretary and assured the Diplomat Business Club all the success and prosperity. In his keynote address, Ambassador Javed Malik, President of the Diplomat Business Club (Global) highlighted the significance of the trade and economic diplomacy in today"s world and said that "trade is the pivot around which bilateral relations between countries can truly flourish" and it was with this in mind that the Diplomat Business Club was formed some years back in the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates. Javed Malik paid rich tributes to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif"s vision for economic development for Pakistan, and said "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the government has a clear road map to make take Pakistan out of the challenges and put it on the road for progress and prosperity, and the world community appreciates the positive steps taken by the prime minister and his team. Thanking the ministers for their presence, he added, "I am honored to have the presence of the dynamic Minister for Commerce, Engr. Khurram Dastagir Khan who continues to positively lead Pakistan"s trade and commerce activity. We are also fortunate to have among us one of the finest diplomats in the country and a key member of Prime Minister"s team, the SAPM Foreign Affairs, Minister of State Syed Tariq Fatemi whose experience in diplomacy is an institution on its own, and we continue to be inspired by him," he added. Responding to the positive remarks by the foreign secretary Ambassador Javed Malik said, "I deeply appreciate your kind words, Mr. Foreign Secretary, and remember vividly the time when we previously worked together, let me say that in Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry I found perhaps one of the most pragmatic, innovative and dynamic personalities in the Pakistan Foreign Service, and it was, and will always remain an honour to work with him." Richard Quesnel, Alun Richards, Nicholas Perrault, Pedro Costa, Shahal Khan and Walid Mushtaq also spoke on the occasion. The Diplomat Business Club Pakistan chapter will be led by its President Ambassador Javed Malik who would be assisted by a Board of advisors comprising of diplomats and business leaders including Walid Mushtaq an Islamabad based businessman (nominated as Vice President) and Sheikh Kashif Shabbir, former President of Rawalpindi Chamber, and other distinguished business leaders and diplomats will also be announced soon by the president for Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi Chapters respectively.
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