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New Zealand's relations with Pakistan have historically been friendly but slight. As a member of the Commonwealth, New Zealand was party to the Commonwealth Heads of Government decision to suspend Pakistan from the Councils of the Commonwealth until the resumption of democratic civilian rule. Sporting links have raised the profile of each country in the other, though a visit to Pakistan by the New Zealand cricket team in April 2002 was abandoned after a terrorist bombing (aimed at French engineers) of the Karachi hotel in which the team was staying. The New Zealand cricket team did tour Pakistan in November 2003 and this was reciprocated by a visit to New Zealand by the Pakistan team in December 2003.
Pakistan appreciated New Zealand's earlier support for its application for re‑entry into the Commonwealth in 1989. It also welcomed New Zealand's involvement in a mine clearance training programme in Quetta, Pakistan, for Afghan refugees. New Zealand's efforts to develop the trading relationship have also been appreciated by the Pakistani authorities.
In March 1990, Mr Moin Fudda, General Manager of Commercial Union in Pakistan, was appointed as NZ’s Honorary aConsul in Karachi. His main duties are to provide a first point of contact for the issue of visas to Pkistani businessmen and officials, to provide consular assistance and to facilitate official visits from the Ambassador in Tehran, who is accredited to Islamabad as High Commissioner. Mr Fudda, whose position has since been upgraded to Honorary Consul-General, was awarded the ONZM in 2002 for his many services to New Zealand interests in Pakistan.
New Zealand exports to Pakistan in the year to June 2004 were $24.4 million. The major commodities were pumps, dairy products and wool products. Imports from Pakistan were $67.2 million, and principally consisted of textile products and apparel/carpets.
With Pakistan’s entry into the ASEAN Regional Forum in July 2004, New Zealand and Pakistan will now have an additional forum in which to exchange views, on Asia-Pacific security issues.
Official Name - Islamic Republic of Pakistan - Land Area - 796,095 sq km - Population - 145.96 million (2002) - Capital City - Islamabad - Religion - Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%) - Official Language - English is the official, and Urdu the national language
Political system - Federal parliamentary system - National government - The Pakistan Muslim League, Qaid-e-Azam Group (PML-Q) is the largest single party and successfully formed a government led by Prime Minister Jamali after the 2002 election. Former Army Chief General Pervez Musharraf, who assumed power as the Chief Executive of the National Security Council after the 1999 coup, remains in office as President. - National legislature - Bicameral legislature - Last election - 10 October 2002 - Next election due - October 2007. No previous government has ever served a full five year term. - Head of State - President: General Pervez Musharraf - Head of Government - Prime Minister Chaudhry Shurkat Hussain
GDP - US$72.3 billion (2003 estimate) - GDP Breakdown - Goods 49.1%; Services 50.9% - GDP Per Capita - US$479 (2003 estimate) - Real GDP Growth - 5.8% (2003 estimate) - Exports - US$11.2 billion (2003 estimate) - Imports - US$12.6 billion (2003 estimate) - Main exports - Readymade garments: $US 1.7 billion; Cotton cloth: $US 1.1 billion; Cotton yarn: $US 0.9 billion; Rice: $US 0.4 billion - Current account - US$3.1 billion (2003 estimate) - Inflation - 2.6% (2003 estimate) - Gross external debt - US$33.2 billion (2003 estimate) - Budget balance - 5.7% fiscal deficit
NZ Exports (FOB) - NZ$24.4 million (for year ended June 2004) - Main Exports - Pumps 20%; Machinery 13%; Wool Products 18%; Dairy products 17% - NZ Imports (CIF) - NZ$67.2 million (for year ended June 2004) - Main Imports - Bed linen/furnishings 53%; Textiles 24%; Apparel and footwear 8.6%; Carpets 3.6% - Services Trade - N/A
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Hon Phil Goff, visited Pakistan on 17-19 August 2004 for a substantive exchange on a range of key international and bilateral issues. Prior to Mr Goff’s visit to Pakistan in August 2004, the last visit to Pakistan by a New Zealand Minister was in February 1990 when the then Minister of External Relations and Trade led a trade mission to Pakistan. During this visit a Trade Agreement and an Exchange of Letters on agricultural cooperation were signed. The most recent high-level bilateral visits have included the visit of President Leghari to New Zealand in November 1995 for CHOGM, the visit to Pakistan in November 1998 by Rt Hon Mike Moore to further his WTO campaign and the visit in April 1999 of the Hon Simon Upton in preparation for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development.
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The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Pakistan [external link].
