Asif Hussain Menon,
Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Hungary
I visited Budapest for the first time in 2010, when I was assigned to the Pakistani embassy in Vienna. Whether I visited with my family or friends, it was always worth coming to Budapest. The Hungarian capital’s historic buildings, restaurants, or a walk along the Danube will impress visitors. When he was appointed as Pakistan’s ambassador to Hungary in 2022, he brought back pleasant memories of previous visits.
Since my arrival, I have been trying with all my might to further strengthen bilateral relations in all areas, in accordance with the ideas of the leadership of the two countries. To this end, I would like to thank the Hungarian government, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, for providing all the support to achieve our common goals. I also express my appreciation for the support of my family. My wife, Natasha, is the President of Budapest Diplomatic Spouses and in this capacity coordinates various charitable activities between embassies and local organizations.
From a bilateral point of view, the relations between Pakistan and Hungary have historical roots. Our national poet, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, admired Sándor Petőfi, who was a key figure in the 1848 Hungarian revolution. Allama Iqbal also wrote a poem about Sándor Petőfi.
Pakistan was among the 50 countries that supported Hungary in the UN during the 1956 revolution. Diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Hungary were established in 1965. In 2025, the two countries will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Pakistani-Hungarian bilateral relations have been on an upward trajectory in recent years, thanks to the joint determination to strengthen fraternal relations in all areas. Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó visited Pakistan in April 2021. Former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari returned the visit to Hungary in February 2023, at which time the parties signed three memorandums of understanding.
Pakistan and Hungary have now signed a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding in various fields, including trade, cultural and scientific cooperation, double taxation, political consultations, education, agriculture and economic cooperation, thereby strengthening future cooperation. . The two countries have also established institutional mechanisms for exchanging ideas on issues affecting common interests. Pakistan appreciates Hungary’s continuous support on the issue of the EU’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP+) in the European Parliament.
Compared to bilateral relations, economic relations do not fully exploit their potential. Traditionally, the proportion of our textile products is the highest among exports to Hungary. Other exports to Hungary are leather products, medical instruments, sesame seeds and pink salt. Pakistan imports pharmaceutical products, machinery and mechanical equipment, as well as electrical equipment from Hungary. There is also a lot of room for maneuver between the two countries in the agricultural sector, and the possibilities of cooperation are currently being investigated.
MOL has been present in Pakistan since 1999, and has approximately USD 305 million in direct foreign investment. The company is one of the largest producers of LPG and crude oil and condensate in Pakistan. In Pakistan, MOL has a share of about 15 percent and 20 percent in the net oil and gas supply, and is one of the flagship projects of the investments. In recognition of MOL Group’s continuous investment in the Pakistani oil and gas sector, the Pakistani government awarded Executive Vice President Dr. Berislav Gaso with the Sitara-i-Imtiaz Award in October 2021.
There is a small Pakistani community of about 2,000 people living in Hungary, mainly students and workers at international agencies. The Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship program is extremely popular among Pakistani students, as it provides them with the opportunity to study at prestigious Hungarian universities. Due to their high international standards, Hungarian universities are also attractive to Pakistani students who want to obtain a degree at their own expense.
In the rapidly developing Eurasian cooperation and growing interdependence, especially in trade and technology, both Pakistan and Hungary recognize the value of expanding fraternal relations in all areas. Hungary’s investment policy has become extremely attractive to investors, and Pakistan offers a huge market for Hungarian and other companies to expand their business activities. For Pakistan, the importance of Hungary stems from the fact that it plays a key role in Central European politics, and that it stands out as a regional hub in trade with other European countries. The leadership of the two countries remains committed to strengthening cooperation, trade relations and people-to-people ties.
This article appeared in the July 2024 issue of Eurasia. The magazine is available across the country at newsstands, hypermarkets and gas stations, among others.
