ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja has said Pakistan’s relations with Azerbaijan have moved beyond traditional diplomatic friendship and developed into a dynamic, multi-dimensional partnership covering trade, investment, energy, connectivity, defence, information technology and digital transformation.
Speaking on the sixth anniversary of Azerbaijan’s Victory Day, the minister said the occasion represented a strong expression of friendship and solidarity between the two countries. She said Pakistan-Azerbaijan relations were rooted in mutual trust, respect and shared values.
Shaza Fatima said Pakistan took pride in the expanding cooperation with Azerbaijan in the digital sector. She described the inauguration this year of the Asaan Khidmat Service Centre in Islamabad, established with Azerbaijan’s cooperation, as a beautiful gift from the President of Azerbaijan to Pakistan and a practical symbol of friendship between the two nations.
The minister said the centre was part of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s vision. She recalled that during his tenure as chief minister of Punjab, the prime minister had established several facilitation centres where citizens could obtain multiple public services under one roof.
She said that during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Baku last year, he visited the Azerbaijan Service Centre, where President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif agreed to set up a similar facility in Islamabad as a mark of friendship between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.
Following the decision taken by the leadership of the two countries, she said, the Azerbaijan Asaan Khidmat Service Centre was established in Sector G-9, Islamabad, in record time. Shaza Fatima invited the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to visit the centre and said it would be an honour for her to personally accompany him.
The federal minister said Pakistan was interested in expanding the network of Azerbaijan Asaan Khidmat Service Centres and related facilities to Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other parts of the country so that citizens could receive convenient and quality public services under one roof, in line with the model followed in Azerbaijan.
Referring to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Pakistan and Azerbaijan in July 2024 in the field of Information and Communication Technologies, Shaza Fatima said both countries had already made significant progress in sectoral cooperation and remained committed to further strengthening the partnership.
She also appreciated the role of former Ambassador of Azerbaijan Hazar Farhadov, saying he had made an important contribution to promoting friendly relations between the two countries. She expressed confidence that bilateral ties would gain further strength and reach new heights under the leadership of the new Ambassador.
During her address, the minister referred to last year’s war between Pakistan and India, Marka-e-Haq, and said the Armed Forces of Pakistan had defended the country with courage and determination under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
She said Pakistan’s success in Marka-e-Haq and the sacrifices rendered by the Armed Forces reflected the real meaning of sacrifice and stood as an important demonstration of national unity, resolve and defence capability.
Shaza Fatima expressed special gratitude to Azerbaijan for supporting Pakistan during Marka-e-Haq, saying Pakistan deeply valued that support.
She said Pakistan appreciated Azerbaijan’s continued support and solidarity not only during last year’s events but throughout the year. She added that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the Chief of Defence Forces and other national leadership had jointly played their role in maintaining global peace and dealing with the prevailing complex geopolitical situation.
The minister said Pakistan was proud that brotherly countries such as Azerbaijan had always stood by it and upheld respect for international law and the principles of global peace.
She reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to working with Azerbaijan to further consolidate their traditional economic partnership while widening cooperation in defence, information technology and emerging sectors for the benefit of the people of both countries.
Concluding her remarks, Shaza Fatima extended heartfelt congratulations to the leadership and people of Azerbaijan on the sixth anniversary of Victory Day and conveyed best wishes for Azerbaijan’s continued peace, progress and prosperity.
She said she was confident that Pakistan and Azerbaijan would continue to deepen and strengthen their bilateral relations for a better future for their people. The minister again welcomed the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan and ended with the words: “Long Live Pakistan-Azerbaijan Friendship” and “Pakistan-Azerbaijan Friendship Zindabad.”
