By Naveed Ahmed Khan Photos Sultan Bashir
ISLAMABAD: Dr. Shahid Rasheed Butt, Honorary Consul General of Ghana in Pakistan and a renowned businessman, hosted a gracious year-end luncheon for honorary consuls and dignitaries from across Pakistan at his residence. The event, co-hosted by Vice Consul Omar Shahid Butt, marked the close of diplomatic and consular engagements for the year.
The luncheon was attended by diplomats, senior bureaucrats and leading business figures, who discussed matters of mutual interest, including politics, the economy, regional stability and trade cooperation. Prominent participants included Ambassador of Morocco Mr. Mohamed Karmoune,Ambassador of Yemen Mohammed Motahar Alashabi , Ambassador Asad Durraini, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Ambassador Khalid Masud, Ghalib Iqbal, Honorary Consul General of Tunisia Ammad Rasheed, Honorary Consul General of Lithuania Masud Khan, Saad Mehmood, Mian Habibullah, Tahseen Syed, Asad Ansari, Assad Saifullah, Faisal Muneer, Baser Daud, Malik Nadeem, Salman Dar, Faisal Zahid Malik, Choudhary Haroon Naseer,Prof. Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal and Naveed Ahmad Khan.
In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Shahid Rasheed Butt expressed gratitude to the guests for attending despite their busy schedules. He said the primary purpose of the gathering was to reconnect with friends and colleagues as the year drew to a close.
Participants said the discussions focused on the evolving political situation in the region, global economic pressures and opportunities for strengthening economic engagement between Pakistan and Ghana, particularly through trade and private sector collaboration. Views were also exchanged on regional challenges, including inflation, supply chain constraints and access to new markets.
Speaking to the guests, the Ghana Honorary Consul General emphasised the importance of sustained people-to-people and business-to-business contacts alongside formal diplomatic channels. He noted that Pakistan and Ghana share common challenges and opportunities in areas such as agriculture, energy services and small and medium enterprises, adding that regular engagement could help identify practical avenues for cooperation.
Vice Consul Omar Shahid Butt briefed the participants on planned activities of the Ghanaian Consulate in Pakistan aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations. He said Pakistan’s exports to Ghana stood at US$76.51 million during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. Major export items include salt, sulphur, earth, stone, plaster, lime and cement; beverages, spirits and vinegar; sugars and sugar confectionery; cotton; plastics; electrical and electronic equipment; and pharmaceutical products.
The luncheon concluded with a consensus on prioritising continued economic and trade dialogue to further strengthen Ghana–Pakistan cooperation.
