ISLAMABAD; Ethiopian Ambassador Dr. Jemal Beker Abdula, who also serves as the Special Envoy and Ambassador Extraordinary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to Pakistan, paid a farewell call on First Lady of Pakistan Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari at the President House in Islamabad on Wednesday.
During the meeting, Dr. Jemal expressed his sincere gratitude to the First Lady for her support in strengthening bilateral relations during his tenure as Ethiopia’s first ambassador to Pakistan.
He said his efforts focused on building lasting partnerships between the two countries and described Pakistan as a strong partner in the evolving global landscape.
The ambassador briefed the First Lady on Ethiopia’s wide-ranging political, economic, social, and legal reforms under the leadership of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed. He highlighted Ethiopia’s position as a gateway to Africa, offering vast trade and investment opportunities for Pakistan.
He also outlined the Green Legacy Initiative launched by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, which aims to promote afforestation and reforestation, improve food security, create employment, and combat soil erosion. Over 48 billion seedlings have been planted across Ethiopia under this initiative.
Dr. Jemal invited the First Lady to visit Ethiopia and explore opportunities for collaboration with the First Lady of Ethiopia, who has played a key role in initiatives related to women, children, and the environment.
Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari appreciated the ambassador’s contributions toward fostering strong Pakistan–Ethiopia ties.
She recalled the visit of her grandfather, former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and emphasized the need to further strengthen historic relations based on mutual respect and solidarity since the time of King Nejashi.
The First Lady noted that Pakistan is among the top ten environmentally stressed countries and mentioned that large-scale reconstruction and plantation activities are underway in her constituency to support flood-affected communities.
She suggested that Pakistan and Ethiopia could collaborate on climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, and early warning systems through Pakistan’s Green Initiative and Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative.
She congratulated Ethiopia on becoming a full member of BRICS and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to expanding cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, and climate action.
She also appreciated the growing economic ties, including the Bilateral Trade Agreement, the upcoming Single Country Exhibition in Addis Ababa, and the resumption of direct flights between Karachi and Addis Ababa, which are boosting connectivity and people-to-people contact.
The First Lady wished Dr. Jemal Beker Abdula success in his future endeavors and expressed hope that the partnership between the two nations would continue to grow. Senator Sherry Rehman was also present at the meeting.
