Faisal Zahid Malik reaffirms media collaboration to bolster both nations’ longstanding relations
Zubair Yaqoob Karachi
Thailand and Pakistan reaffirmed their decades-long relationship during a meeting between Surashete Boontinand, Consul General of Thailand in Karachi, and Faisal Zahid Malik, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Pakistan Observer, held at the Royal Thai Consulate.
The talks marked by warmth and mutual respect, highlighted the two countries’ evolving partnership across diplomacy, trade, culture, and education.
CG Thailand Boontinand expressed gratitude to Faisal Zahid Malik and praised the longstanding bilateral relationship between two countries that began in 1951. He further acknowledged the strength of their partnership in addressing global challenges like climate change and humanitarian efforts. A central focus of the meeting was the po-tential for enhanced economic cooperation. Both sides voiced optimism that a pending Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would unlock further opportuni-ties in expanding their trade relations.
CG Boontinand emphasized Thailand’s existing investment in Pakistan’s energy and infrastructure sectors, particularly through joint ventures in con-struction and renewable energy. Pakistan, in return, has sought to boost its exports to Thailand in tex-tiles, rice, surgical instruments, and seafood. Consul General Boontinand also praised the strides Pakistan has made in promoting its ancient Buddhist heri-tage, especially the Gandhara civilization, to attract Thai tourists and spiritual visitors.
“Pakistan holds a special place for Thai citizens interested in Buddhist history, particularly in re-gions like Taxila and Swat Valley,” he said. He welcomed greater cultural exchanges, including increased people-to-people contact, student scholar-ships, and joint tourism development initiatives. Education also featured prominently in the conver-sation. With a growing number of Pakistani students studying in Thailand and institutions in Pakistan offering Thai language course, both countries view academic cooperation as a bridge to long-term un-derstanding.
The two also explored avenues for cooperation in the digital economy, including fintech and e-commerce. Faisal Zahid Malik, in turn, lauded Thai-land’s transformation into a modern constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. He praised the country’s smart governance, urban development, law and order, and its exemplary public healthcare system that has become a model for medical tour-ism. Malik underscored Thailand’s reputation as a peaceful, tourism-driven economy that has culti-vated international respect through consistent devel-opment and inclusive policies.
Highlighting the historic links between the two na-tions, Malik praised their cooperation under the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) and Thailand’s consistent support for Pakistan’s en-gagement with ASEAN. He stressed the importance of continued diplomatic dialogue, trade diversifica-tion, and cultural diplomacy as core elements of the bilateral agenda. The meeting also saw both digni-taries commit to new initiatives in media and public outreach. Malik offered the support of his media group to amplify success stories from both countries and create a positive narrative of collaboration. He extended a formal invitation to the Consul General to visit Pakistan Observer’s offices and participate in joint forums that could advance media partner-ships and public diplomacy.
Concluding the exchange, Consul General of Thai-land Surashete Boontinand presented a souvenir to Malik, symbolizing goodwill and shared aspirations. Both expressed their strong desire to deepen bilat-eral cooperation through education, culture, strate-gic dialogue, and economic integration. The meet-ing ended on a note of shared optimism, with both sides affirming their commitment to reinforcing the friendship between Thailand and Pakistan through purposeful engagement and mutual respect.
