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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 readmit Pakistan to the Councils of the Commonwealth following the resumption of democratic civilian rule in May 2008.
The Ambassador in Tehran is accredited to Islamabad as High Commissioner to Pakistan. Mr Moin Fudda, General Manager of Commercial Union in Pakistan, is New Zealand’s Honorary Consul-General in Karachi. Mr Fudda was awarded the ONZM in 2002 for his many services to New Zealand interests in Pakistan.
Then Foreign Minister Kasuri visited New Zealand in May 2005, followed by President Musharraf in June 2005. The Pakistan High Commission opened in Wellington in mid 2006. The last visit to Pakistan by a New Zealand Minister was by Hon Phil Goff in 2007, when he opened an environmental project on ‘waste to energy’ at the Landhi Cattle Colony’.
New Zealand has a modest by growing commercial interest in Pakistan. Exports for the year to December 2007 were NZ$85 million. Agriculture and education are key areas for future growth in the trade and economic relationship. New Zealanders are involved in the development of Pakistan’s dairy industry, and more than 100 Pakistani students are currently studying in New Zealand on Pakistani Government post graduate scholarships.
New Zealand and Pakistan held inaugural Foreign Ministry Consultations in Islamabad on 19 September 2006. The next round of Foreign Ministry Consultations are due to be held in Wellington in April 2009.
A small bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme is provided by New Zealand, through the Head of Mission Fund. This has included providing funding for water pumps in remote villages, medical equipment, micro-credit funding, and assistance to some schools. New Zealand has also contributed emergency relief to Pakistan, including $500,000 to UNHCR in July 2007 following severe floods, and $2.25million to various agencies following the 2005 earthquake. In addition, the New Zealand Government contributed over $900,000 to NGO programmes in Pakistan since 2004. Outside of government channels, community groups such as Lions and Rotary also fund projects in Pakistan.
New Zealand has expressed its concerns over human rights standards in Pakistan, both bilaterally and multilaterally on a number of occasions. New Zealand has also worked with Pakistan as a ‘frontline state’ in the war against terrorism.
Sporting links have raised the profile of each country in the other, though a visit to Pakistan in 2008 by the New Zealand cricket team was cancelled by the ICC on security grounds.
Official Name - Islamic Republic of Pakistan - Land Area - 803,940 sq km - Population - 158.2 million (2007) - Capital City - Islamabad - Religion - Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%) - Official Language - English (official), Urdu (national)
Political system - Federal parliamentary system - National government - Coalition government led by the Pakistan People’s party (PPP) - Last election - Parliamentary elections in April 2008, Presidential elections in September 2008 - Head of State - President HE Mr Asif Ali Zardari - Head of Government - Prime Minister HE Syed Yousef Raza Gilani
GDP (at current prices) - US$171.2 Billion (2008 forecast) - GDP Per Capita - US$443,3 (2008) - Real GDP Growth - 6.0% (2008) - Exports - US$20,815m - Imports - US$35 billion (2008) - Main exports - garments, cotton cloth and yarn, rice - - Inflation - (% change YOY) 27.5% (Q1, 2008)
NZ Exports (FOB) - NZ$85,067 million (for year ended December 2008 - Main Exports - milk powder, machinery, milk products, wood pulp - NZ Imports (CIF) - NZ$57,404 million (for year ended December 2008) - Main Imports - bed linen, furnishings, man-made staple fibres, cotton fabric, apparel
The Safe Travel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Pakistan [external link].
