President of the Council of States of Swiss Confederation Mr. Jean Rene Fournier Call on President Dr. Arif Alvi. 05/11/19

PRESIDENT’S SECRETARIAT (PUBLIC)
PRESS WING
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(PR No. 166/2019)
President of the Council of States of Swiss Confederation Mr. Jean Rene Fournier Call on
President Dr. Arif Alvi
Islamabad, November 05, 2019: India’s illegal actions to alter the disputed status of Indian
occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IoJ&K) and the imposition of communication blockade not only
contravene numerous UNSC resolutions and international law, but also blatantly violate the basic
human rights of the people of IoJ&K, said President Dr. Arif Alvi, while talking to President of
the Council of States of Swiss Confederation, Mr. Jean Rene Fournier, who called on him at the
Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad today. He stressed that Jammu and Kashmir was not an internal affair
of India, rather an internationally recognized dispute, pending on the agenda of the United
Nations Security Council for 70 years. He highlighted that the bilateral Simla Agreement that
India had been presenting to the world as the sole modus operandi for resolution of bilateral
disputes between India and Pakistan had failed to produce any result since 1972.
President of the Council of States of Swiss Confederation, Mr. Jean Rene Fournier, said that
Switzerland was a staunch supporter of human rights and would offer its good offices for
resolution of Kashmir dispute, if both parties agreed, he added.
President Dr. Arif Alvi highlighted that Pakistan attached great importance to our cordial and
friendly relations with Switzerland and this year marked the 70th anniversary of the establishment
of bilateral relations. He said that shared belief in fundamental principles of democracy, human
rights, justice and rule of law had been the defining elements of the excellent bilateral relations.
The President emphasized that Pakistan valued its long-term partnership with Switzerland in
economic, trade and commercial fields. He further said that the trade between the two countries
had been increasing steadily, though was not yet commensurate with the true potential.
Appreciating Swiss investment in Pakistan, he underscored that the business friendly policies of
the Government were bearing fruit as Pakistan had gained 28 places in the “Ease of Doing
Business” index this year.
The President emphasized that the energy demand in Pakistan had created highly profitable
opportunities for the Swiss companies to invest in the renewable, hydel and clean technology
power generation projects. He highlighted that there was also investment opportunities in
research and innovation to increase productivity and profitability in crops, dairy, forestry,
irrigation and water management, land management, seed production and biotechnology sectors
of Pakistan. He said that growth in all industries had placed great demands on all facets of
Pakistan’s air, sea, rail and road and physical infrastructure. There was also a huge tourism
infrastructure potential in Pakistan and Swiss firms could explore these investment opportunities,
he added.
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