Dr Lutfur Rehman
PAKISTAN and South Korea have agreed to further strengthen their bilateral cooperation in different fields including trade, commerce, power generation, science and technology. For this purpose, the two countries are giving final touches to Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). It is hoped that the agreement will be signed during Pakistan-Korea Trade and Investment Conference scheduled in Seoul, the capital of South Korea in coming March. Companies of the two countries recently signed six Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to enhance cooperation in different sectors. Islamabad is encouraging Korean companies to set up production units in Pakistan and exports their products to local market, Central Asia and Middle East.
South Korean company, KOEN has agreed to construct two hydel power stations in Swat. The company will invest $1 billion and the projects on completion will generate 467-megawatt electricity. Feasibility studies of the power stations have already been completed. A similar project will also be completed at Lower Spat Gah near Pattan in Indus Kohistan. It has the capacity to produce about 500 MW electricity. Trade between the two countries is going smoothly since long. According to United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database, Pakistan exported goods of $164.95 million to South Korea last year. These include textiles, leather, surgical and sports goods, food items, minerals and IT services. It is projected that Pakistani exports to South Korea will jump to $757 million in the next six years.
Similarly, South Korea is exporting different consumer goods to Pakistan. It exports to Pakistan stood at $1.32 billion in 2025.These include electric and electronic goods, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, chemical products, machinery, iron and steel and skin care items. Korean brand cars are running on highways and roads across the country. In addition to this, South Korean construction machinery is playing a key role in infrastructure development and excavation sectors in Pakistan. South Korean automobiles companies have installed their manufacturing and assembly plants in Pakistan. South Korean companies are also engaged in power generation sector in Pakistan for the last 15 years. It has already completed Gulpur Hydropower Project on Poonch River in Kotli District of Azad Jammu and Kashmir which is generating 102-megawatt electricity.
The two countries have always helped each other at critical junctures. They enjoy friendly and cooperative relations since 1950s. The foundation of these friendly ties was laid during the Korean War (1950-53). No doubt, Pakistan had achieved independence just three years ago and was facing immense problems, but it took a bold step by providing wheat, medicines and other essential commodities besides financial aid to South Korea. The two countries established diplomatic relations at the consular level in 1968 and upgraded it to embassies level in 1983. Keeping in view tense situation in the Korean Peninsula, Islamabad has repeatedly called for diplomatic engagement and dialogue to overcome the challenges being confronted by the Peninsula. According to Pakistan Permanent representative to the United Nation, Ambassador Munir Akram, Islamabad strongly supports the calls for revival of talks among the relevant parties, denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. South Korea has appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting dialogue and diplomacy to address regional and international issues.
South Korea provided $ 3 million humanitarian aid after the devastating earthquake of 2005. South Korean Red Crescent contributed relief assistance amounting to $50,000. Islamabad and Seoul have agreed to enhance their defence cooperation between their armed forces. Their navies have conducted passing exercise in the Arabian Sea under Combined Task Force (CTF) to deter illicit maritime activities including drug trafficking and piracy. The CTF comprises a 47-nation multinational naval partnership having its headquarters in Bahrain. The CTF is working for promotion of security, stability and prosperity in approximately 3.2 million square miles of international shipping lanes. South Korean leadership has condemned terrorist acts in parts of Pakistan and termed terrorism as a crime against civilization and humanity. According to South Korean Foreign Ministry, terrorism cannot be justified under any circumstances and must be eradicated at any cost. It is determined to take an active part in the efforts of the global community to eliminate terrorism.
Pakistan-South Korean relationship is based on mutual trust, respect and benefits. Thousands of Pakistani students are perusing their higher education in South Korean higher educational institutions. Majority of them are availing Global Korea Scholarship. Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has signed MOUs with different South Korean universities. South Korea has also expressed its willingness to strengthen cooperation with Pakistani research organizations and promote partnership. It is hoped that ties between the two countries will be further strengthened in coming years including increased people to people contacts, cooperation among higher educational institutions and bilateral visits of educationists.
—The writer is former Controller News, Radio Pakistan and author of two books on “Pakistan-Afghanistan Border.”