Malta–Pakistan relations

Malta–Pakistan relations are the bilateral relations between Malta and Pakistan.

Pakistan-Malta relations

Pakistan	Malta

Pakistan and Malta established diplomatic relations in January 1966. Malta has its diplomatic and consular responsibilities looked after by the Italian Embassy residing in Islamabad. On the other hand, Pakistan is concurrently accredited to Malta through its embassy in Tunis with an Honorary Consulate in Attard (Malta) since September 2015. Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

High Level Interaction

Bilateral meetings have always emphasized the need for increasing commercial and economic collaboration, chiefly through encouraging the exchange of trade delegations. In a meeting in Valletta in 2007 between the respective Foreign Ministers, the two countries concurred to "continue the ongoing cooperation between the two countries in the United Nations and other international forums as well and reviewed bilateral ties with a view to strengthening relations between Pakistan and Malta in all spheres, especially trade and investment."[1][2][3] The exchange of trade delegations are meant to assess and exploit the true potential of economic cooperation between the two countries, which are the "gateways" to their respective regions.

Pakistan has also sought Malta's support to Pakistan's initiative for equitable market access to the European Union through a Free Trade Agreement or similar mechanism.[4][5]

The need to take the initiative also echoed during the meeting of Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat with his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, on the sidelines of the 24th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) session in Malta in November 2015.

Aviation

An Air Malta Boeing 720B with Pakistani registration AP-AMJ, leased from Pakistan International Airlines in the 1970s

Malta's national airlines, Air Malta, was established in the 1970s with the help and expertise of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).[6] At that time, the government of Malta had made several attempts to establish a national flag carrier with the possible assistance of an established foreign airline.

Accordingly, PIA emerged with the most favourable contract conditions and upon commencement, offered to invest 20% in shares.[7] PIA provided a management team which would run the airline from its inception. The early generation of Air Malta pilots, as well as flight and ground engineers, owe their training and initial knowledge to PIA.[7] The first batches of novices were dispatched to Pakistan where they undertook extensive training.[7] Two Boeing 720s were also leased from PIA for a five-year period. In 1973, PIA assigned a general manager and four senior managers to Air Malta who would be responsible for the airline's marketing, financing, flight and ground operations.[7]

Air Malta eventually found itself in a conducive position to utilise local resources and sustain operational capability with full-time Maltese staff. Within an agreed time frame, the Maltese government was able to acquire PIA's 20% stake.

Human trafficking

There have been several documented instances. In 2002, a Maltese citizen of Pakistani origin was sentenced to seven years imprisonment in Malta. He was found guilty of kidnapping 11 Pakistani infants that were brought to Malta for adoption.[8]

Later in 2009, it was widely reported that a Pakistan-based human trafficking ring had set up a successful business in Malta of furnishing illegal documents to Pakistanis seeking entry into mainland Europe. Malta is a major transit point onwards to the southern reaches of Italy and Spain. Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) also corroborated the modus operandi.[9]

This trafficking network eventually has resulted in widespread arrests. In December 2002, a boat transporting approximately 110 undocumented Pakistanis was stopped by the Maltese Army and the illegal passengers were detained under the immigration act. Relatives of the detainees pleaded with the Pakistani government to provide consular assistance and other relief.[10]

Fundraisers For Flood Victims

Following the 2010 Pakistan floods, a dinner was patronised by the President of Malta in support of and as a mark of solidarity with the victims.[11] This flood support initiative has been quoted as "a milestone in the history of Pakistan and Malta relations." Several fundraisers have since been organized by members of Malta's political elite, corporate sector and entertainment industry. A substantial figure was generated as a result of a donation drive in July 2016 for victims of the deluge that ravaged northern Pakistan.[11]

References

1. "Pakistan's Musharraf, Malta minister discuss bilateral ties". Pakistan Television Corporation via BBC Monitoring. June 14, 2007. Retrieved 2011-01-13. ...
2. "Pakistan, Malta to Continue Cooperation at International Forums". Pakistan Times. June 14, 2007. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
3. "Malta, Pakistan review, strengthen bilateral ties". Pakistan Press International. June 14, 2007. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
4. "Pakistan ties". Associated Press of Pakistan in Daily Malta. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
5. "Pakistan, Malta agree to continue ongoing cooperation at international forums". Asia Pulse. June 13, 2007. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
6. "Gilani, Malta President hold bilateral meeting". Guluna. September 1, 2009.
7. Captain Robin J. Zammit. "Air Malta: A story of flying colours". ReoCities.
8. "Maltese jailed for trafficking Pakistani babies". May 24, 2006. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
9. "Pakistani human traffickers use Malta as staging post for Europe". The Malta Independent. Archived from the original on 2012-02-18. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
10. "Pakistanis in Malta jail seek govt help". Dawn. December 20, 2010.
11. "Solidarity dinner for the Pakistani people". The Malta Independent. Archived from the original on 2012-03-15. Retrieved 2011-01-20.