Graduation ceremony of junior diplomatic course held at FO.

ISLAMABAD -- The graduation ceremony of 6-week long junior diplomatic course was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday.

Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Andleeb Abbas was the chief guest. Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood also attended the graduation ceremony. They also distributed the certificates.

Parliamentary Secretary, in her address, said that the junior diplomatic course was an excellent step towards building bonds of friendship and cooperation between Pakistan and the countries that were represented by the diplomats.

She also underlined the importance of diplomacy as fundamental tool to promote peace and strengthen relations. She added that the diplomats of these countries would be ambassadors of Pakistan in their countries.

Highlighting Pakistan's special focus on the African continent, the Parliamentary Secretary termed it as 'continent of the future.'

She said that Ministry of Foreign Affairs organised an Envoys Conference 'Engage Africa' to chart out a roadmap to further strengthen and deepen its relationship with Africa.

She said that Prime Minister Imran Khan was ambassador of peace and his vision of 'peaceful neighbourhood' was a cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy.

Ambassador Aftab Ahmad Khokher, Director General, Foreign Service Academy, said that the course helped create better understanding of Pakistan's foreign policy and conducive economic environment in Pakistan.

He said that the...