PESHAWAR: High Commissioner of South Africa in Pakistan, Mthuthuzeli Madikiza on Wednesday said that soon a Youth Exchange Program would be launched between South Africa and Pakistan, saying the programme would be named after two prominent leaders of this century – Nelson Mandela and Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
“The Youth Exchange Program aims at sensitizing our coming generation on struggle by the two great leaders for their peoples at one hand and enhancing youth-to-youth contact to further cement bilateral ties between the two brotherly countries”, Mr Madikiza informed.
The South Africa HC expressed the view during a meeting with former national footballer and Convener of Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries for Pakistan (FPCCI), Afghanistan and Central Asian States Shahid Khan Shinwari. Objective of the meeting was extending bilateral trade ties, business-to-business contact, youth and sports exchange program between the two friendly countries.
“The South Africa and Pakistan have been locked in a friendly bond since long, which has grown with important trade ties along with other inter-government communications, he added.
They discussed ways and means regarding strengthening the trade ties besides youth-to-youth exchange program and help each other in the sports sectors.
HC Madikiza also offered that South Africa would provide expertise for the promotion of football in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in particular and in the country in general.
Expressing solidarity with flood victims, the envoy appreciated Legends of Pakistan and Shahid Khan for holding a football match for the relief and rehabilitation of flood victims in Landi Kotal, Khyber District and Peshawar Sports Complex wherein national and international footballers participate.
“It is very good that the whole of the football family is extending solidarity with this football match in this hour of need,” Mthuthuzeli Madikiza said. He said Pakistan and South Africa were enjoying well established diplomatic relations.
Mthuthuzeli Madikiza assured Shahid Khan of visiting Peshawar to express solidarity with our brothers and sisters who were affected by the recent flood.
Shahid Khan Shinwari, a former national football player, said that the two countries have developed a strong relationship, which is based on mutual trust, respect and cooperation. Underlining that warmth and cordiality characterized the Pakistan-South Africa relationship, he highlighted the growing linkages between the two peoples.
The envoy said that the two sides have been able to maintain a positive trajectory in sustaining high level interactions and cementing cooperation in diverse spheres, including political, economic and agriculture, sports and youth to youth exchange program besides the youth of South Africa would come to play side-by-side with Pakistani youth in different games particularly football.
He said, South African world famous cricketers and football stars have more fan following and the people of Pakistan, specially the youth love to watch these stars in action.
Shahid Khan during his meeting also invited him for the forthcoming International Football match to be played for fund raising for flood victims. Shahid Khan informed the envoy that the match is aimed to raise funds for flood victims.
Shahid Khan thanked the High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa and invited him to visit Peshawar for the flood relief match in Peshawar Sports Complex.
