The 25th enthronement anniversary of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco was commemorated in Karachi on Tuesday.
The event held at the residence of Honorary Consul General Ishtiaq Baig was attended by Morocco's Ambassador to Pakistan Mohamed Karmoune, consuls general of various countries, government officials and people from diverse backgrounds.
“The celebration of the 25th anniversary of King Mohammed VI's ascension to the throne is a moment for the renewal of the strong ties that unite the Moroccan citizens with their king and the commemoration of a positive transformation and great achievements that Morocco has accomplished over the last 25 years under the leadership and the clear vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI," said the Moroccan ambassador as he addressed the event.
He highlighted that over the past 25 years, the democratic institutions in Morocco had been strengthened and the country's GDP had tripled. He said the social protection policy had witnessed considerable efforts to improve access to medical care and social services, adding that the Moroccan political landscape had undergone significant changes during the reign of King Mohammed VI.
He said that on the economic level, a large number of projects had been completed or were on the way to completion, enabling Morocco to diversify its economy and emerge as a major African industrial and technology platform by developing key sectors like the automotive and the aerospace industries. "These projects coupled with an environment for foreign investors have boosted the competitiveness of the country and attracted significant foreign investment. Between 2007 and 2023, the country attracted around USD37.5 billion in foreign direct investment, averaging USD2.2 billion per year placing the country as one of the most attractive investment destinations in Africa," the ambassador maintained.
He said Morocco had become a catalyst or even a driving force that uplifted its own economy and those of neighbouring and continental countries. The Atlantic Initiative launched by the king was beginning to reshape the geostrategic landscape in Africa, he added.
Karmoune said that in his address to the Moroccan nation commemorating the 25th anniversary of his ascension to the throne, King Mohammed IV paid particular attention to the pressing issue of water scarcity, underscoring the urgency of addressing Moroccan's water crisis.
The king called for innovative solutions and improved governance to ensure that all the citizens had access to drinking water, the ambassador said.
About Moroccan ties with Pakistan, the ambassador said the relations between the two countries were based on mutual respect and trust. He was of the view that historical ties had linked the two nations for more than 66 years. "The cooperation is getting more and more stronger by maintaining a regular political dialogue, reinforcement of the legal framework, numerous exchanges of high-level visits, and commendable coordination in the different international organisations," he went on.
"The Kingdom of Morocco is determined to continue its cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. We strongly believe that working together will achieve our common development vision and embed our relations in excellence," the ambassador stressed. Baig said he considered Morocco his second home. Besides being the honorary consul general of Morocco, he said he was also the chairman of the Pak-Morocco Business Council, which was playing a significant role in enhancing bilateral trade and investment between the two countries.
