Islamabad, 16 February 2023 (TDI): Pakistan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands are celebrating 75 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations today.
To commemorate the occasion, the Embassy of the Netherlands in Pakistan has organizied Tulip Garden and ‘After Us The Deluge’ Photo Exhibition by Dutch photographer Kadir van Lohuizen.
The exhibition will be held in Fatima Jinnah Park, Islamabad from 16 to 22 February. The two sides will also celebrate the occasion by holding various events in Islamabad and the Hague.
Notably, in honor of the completion of 75 years, a joint logo was launched during the 10th Round of Pakistan- Netherlands Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) in Hague on 8th February.
Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed Khan and Paul Huijts, Secretary General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of The Netherlands, led the respective sides.
Also read: Pakistan-Netherlands hold 10th Round of Bilateral Political Consultations
The two sides discussed the entire gamut of bilateral relations between Pakistan and the Netherlands as well as regional and multilateral issues of common interest.
Pakistan-Netherlands diplomatic relations
Pakistan and the Netherlands established bilateral relations soon after the independence of Pakistan. The Dutch Embassy opened in Karachi in 1955 and shifted to Islamabad ten years later.
Pakistan soon became a partner country for the Netherlands, receiving substantial development cooperation funds from the 1960s onwards, particularly in the areas of environment, education, and governance.
In 2011, the Dutch government decided to terminate the structural development projects and shift the focus to trade relations. Both countries support each other and look after each other’s interests on international platforms.
There exists a strong Pakistani diaspora in the Netherlands; the majority is youth, as a strong, efficient, and skilled workforce, contributing to the economic development of the Netherlands.
It is pertinent to note that since 2004, the Netherlands has hosted more than 100 Pakistani junior diplomats who were educated and obtained degrees from the Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael.
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