Man petition Pakistani gov’t over Mission’s failure to foster economic relations with Nigeria

The Director, Peel Aston Global, Mr Khomeinizadeh Bukhari, has petitioned the Pakistani government over what he described as the alleged failure of the Pakistani High Commission to foster economic relations with Nigeria. The businessman in his petition to the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Mr Makhdoom Qureshi, dated October 26, 2021, said the mission was obstructing […]

The Director, Peel Aston Global, Mr Khomeinizadeh Bukhari, has petitioned the Pakistani government over what he described as the alleged failure of the Pakistani High Commission to foster economic relations with Nigeria.

The businessman in his petition to the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Mr Makhdoom Qureshi, dated October 26, 2021, said the mission was obstructing investments in Nigeria and asked Islamabad to audit the activities of the high commission in Nigeria.

The British-Pakistani citizen said he had reached out to the High Commissioner, Maj Gen Muhammad Tayab Azam (retd.), to assist in promoting Pakistan but without success.

The petition read: “I am highly disappointed in the nonchalant way the Pakistan High Commission and its administration are performing.

“They are not interested in building true friendships with Nigeria. Instead, they are on the ground for purely selfish interests.

“I have reached out to Maj. Gen Muhammad Tayab Azam, the High Commissioner of Pakistan to Nigeria, many times to assist him in promoting Pakistan effectively.

“The High Commissioner has been using all avenues in blocking me from bringing in new companies into Nigeria from Pakistan for the EXPO in Lagos coming up in November 2021.

“He is doing this by colluding with Mr Zulfiqar Ali Langah at TDAP. The companies I put forward have a genuine interest in doing projects in Nigeria.

“Prior to this, the Head of Mission, Mr Ali Tamkin, in Lagos requested me on behalf of the Pakistani High Commissioner and his team in Nigeria, to assist him in securing an appointment for a courtesy call on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and when I got to the high point, they double-crossed me.”

But the high commissioner dismissed the allegations against him, saying he has been working hard to strengthen the bilateral relations between his country and Nigeria.

“We appreciate anyone who wants to help us; we are here to strengthen the relations with Nigeria, so I don’t know what he (Bukhari) is talking about,” Azam said.