PIA NEWS VOL.

Issue 03

PIA News
Vol.5

1st February
2015
A

ICC WORLD CUP FEVER IS ON

PASSION, INTEGRITY & APNAPAN

So the World Cup is here and excitement is already building up. Thanks to Team ICC led by Hon. Counsel in
Victoria Ayesha Bux, Nazish Minto and Asad Khan who coordinated the tickets for the most awaited match of the
tournament i.e. Pakistan vs India in Adelaide on 15th Feb. The tickets are now being sent all over Australia so as
you receive this newsletter tickets should be in your hand.
The excitement in Perth is also at its highest with Umer Sheikh taking lead to arrange a pre departure event on
12th February, 2015 at 6 pm. The venue is Sir James Mitchell Park (Corner of Coode St & Mill Point Rd, South
Perth) for all Pak fans travelling from Perth to Adelaide. Please bring your markers, color pencils, posters,
placards, flags and come with your family. If someone can volunteer to sing a song, that will be awesome. It will
be great to have someone on board who can write well with marker or can make nice drawings. The purpose is to
show the love for Pak Cricket in particular and Pak in general; also to share ideas about chants, hoots, songs and
all in between. If someone in the meantime can come up with a poem whether in English or Urdu that will be
great.
#AUSTRALIADAY 2015
In response to our solar light project we are able to provide 28 solar lights for kids in Pakistan through Child
Health and Education Foundation. Thanks to all of you who supported this project. Remember with as little as
about 300 dollars you can also install a water pump in a remote area in memory of your loved ones. There is no
better gift for underserved communities where there are no doctors and a lot of waterborne diseases can be
prevented.

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REFLECTIONS ON AUSTRALIA PAKISTAN BILATERAL TRADE RELATIONS

By
Abdul Aziz Uqaili
Consul General & Trade
Commissioner of Pakistan in
Australia @ Sydney
The bilateral trade relations between Australia and Pakistan started soon after the independence of the
subcontinent from the British rule in 1947 and the birth of Pakistan, when in 1948 a Trade Mission of Pakistan was
established in Sydney. Since then the Trade Mission has remained functional in Sydney in one form or another to
promote the bilateral trade relations and to facilitate the businesses from both the countries.
In last five years, the volume of bilateral trade between Australia and Pakistan has ranged between $550 Million
to $811 Million. A significantly positive trend in Pakistans exports to Australia was witnessed when these grew by
17.35%, rising from $179 Million (in FY2012-13) to $210 Million (in FY2013-14). Previously, our exports had
stagnated around $175 Million in last three years.
On the other hand, the import of Australian products in Pakistan declined by 36% (in FY2013-14), falling from $632
Million to $411 Million. Therefore, the total volume of the trade dwindled from $811 Million to $611 Million and
the balance of trade (BOT) remained tilted in favour of Australia, as the import of Australian products in Pakistan
has always surpassed our exports to Australia.
However, the adverse BOT position improved for Pakistan vis--vis Australia in last year by 57% when the BOT fell
from $453 Million (FY2012-13) to $192 Million (FY2013-14).
Australia and Pakistan have set up a Joint Trade Committee (JTC), which is an effective bilateral forum for trade
discussions and negotiations between the two countries. JTC meetings are held annually, both in Australia and in
Pakistan, on rotation basis. 5th JTC Meeting was held in Canberra in September 2014 in which issues of bilateral trade,
trade policy, market access, technical support and enhanced bilateral exchange of trade delegations were discussed.
Important decisions were taken, which included collaboration of Austrade and TDAP for trade promotion activities
and provision of technical assistance by Australian government under the Country Assistance Programme (CAP) for
strengthening the institutional capacity of Ministry of Commerce and trade related private sector organisations of
Pakistan. Both sides agreed to continue technical cooperation in the areas of agriculture, engineering and vocational
training. They decided to make use of various tools for market development including business-to-business meetings,
awareness seminars and exchange of delegations. Secretary Commerce Islamabad led the Pakistani side of the
delegation for the JTC meeting.
There was a consensus regarding challenges confronting the global trade negotiations and the position of Cairns
Group on agriculture related issues. It was agreed that all efforts would be made to increase the bilateral trade
volume to one billion dollars by next year, as the current trade volume was far below the trade potential of the two
countries.
On the sidelines of 5th JTC meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Strengthening Bilateral Trade and
Economic Cooperation was signed between Pakistan and Australia at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(DFAT), Canberra.

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Promoting business-to-business contacts and exchange of Business Delegations on regular basis are crucial to
boosting trade relations among the nations. An increased activity has been witnessed in business interactions
between Australia and Pakistan. In order to explore export opportunities and to establish their business networking
in Australia, three business delegations from Pakistan visited this region during last one year and a half. In Sept 2013,
textile manufacturers and exporters from Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) visited Sydney and
Melbourne and held productive meetings with their counterparts. A business delegation of leading towel
manufacturers, duly sponsored by Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Towel Manufacturers
Association (TMA) visited Australia and New Zealand in Apr / May 2014 and displayed variety of their terry towel
products in the Product Showcases organised by Pakistans Missions in Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland. Lately, a
business delegation from Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), comprising four businessmen visited
Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart and Gold Coast in Oct 2014 and held fruitful discussions with Australian companies.
Several Pakistani businesses are planning their business trips this year including delegations from Federation of
Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Rice Exporters
Association of Pakistan (RECP) and LCCI. Besides, a TDAP led and government sponsored business delegation is due
to visit Australia and New Zealand in April 2014.

Effective Business Networking is vital for the success and growth of business. Trade Mission of Pakistan Sydney
closely liaises with Australian trade bodies and associations and networks with the leading Australian companies
including importers, buyers, wholesalers, etc. The Mission maintains an updated account of all the relevant
Australian businesses for developing their linkages with Pakistani exporters.

Participation of businessmen in various International Exhibitions and Trade Fairs is an important tool for
flourishing the individual business at micro level and growing trade volume at macro level. In Oct 2013, an
Australian Business Delegation visited Pakistan to participate in 8th Expo Pakistan in Karachi. Next month, an
Australian Business Delegation is planning to visit Pakistan and participate in 9th Expo Pakistan in Karachi (26 Feb 1 Mar 2015). Similarly, Pakistani manufacturers and exporters participated in Australian International Sourcing Fair
(AISF) Melbourne in Oct 2013 and Nov 2014. Pakistani manufacturers and exporters of foodstuff and other related
products are being motivated to participate in Fine Foods Australia this year.

Projection of the soft image of Pakistan in Australia is deemed essential to increasing trade volumes with various
trading partners / nations of the world. Not only the government authorities but also the leading businessmen
from Pakistan share the same view and strongly advocate it. Accordingly, the Trade Mission Sydney has taken
several initiatives and planned many more for 2015. In August 2014, a cultural troupe from Pakistan was invited to
participate in Azadi Mela celebrations, jointly organised by Pakistan Association of Australia and the Consulate
General of Pakistan in Sydney. Leading sufi (mystic) artist and singer Sanam Marvi enthralled the Australian
audience. This year, in March, a photographic and art exhibition titled This is Pakistan the Epitome of Great Indus
and Gandhara Civilisations will be arranged in Sydney. Renowned Pakistani artist Anjum Ayaz will personally
supervise the exhibition in collaboration with Koocha-e-Saqafat (The House of Culture) Australia and the Consulate
General & Trade Mission of Pakistan Sydney. Thousands of Australians and Australian Pakistanis will in participate
the event to explore the hidden treasures that Pakistan possesses, in stark contrast from the negative perceptions
around Pakistans identity in the world. For the first time in the history of Sydney, a grand cultural event - Pakistan
Folk Music and Cultural Festival has been planned to take place on 21-22 March 2015, in the heart of Darling
Harbour, the most fascinating tourist spot of Sydney. The idea is to project the real soft image of Pakistan, artadmiring and music-loving nation.

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Australian Friends of Pakistan (AFsP) is a recent initiative of the Trade Mission Sydney to project the soft image of
Pakistan and to improve the perception of our country as a growing and dynamic nation with unlimited and
untapped business opportunities. All those Australians who have been visiting and doing business in Pakistan are
included in the exclusive club (AFsP), with their prior consent. These Australian friends hold a positive opinion
about Pakistan and, on request, provide firsthand information about Pakistan to all those Australian businessmen
who hesitate to visit Pakistan for business.

KASHMIR DAY
The Kashmir Solidarity Committee cordially invites to a seminar on Determinants of Peace in South Asia on
5th February 2015 (Thursday) at 1730 hours Venue: 4-Timbarra Crescent, OMalley, ACT 2606
(KSC is thankful to the High Commission of Pakistan to offer its venue for this seminar) RSVP Tuesday 3
February 2015. Mohammad Ali Javed Butt Iqbal Khan 0434 604 208 0402 14 1771 0403 069 578

JOB OPTIONS FOR YEAR 12 GRADUATES

The WA State Government is urging recent Year 12 graduates to consider the hundreds of courses available
through the States training providers.
Economic forecasts show there is unmet demand for many jobs including electricians, fitters, aged and
disability carers, building inspectors, gas and petroleum operators, health practice managers and human
resource advisers.
The governments 11 State training providers and more than 300 contracted private training providers offer
high-quality training and skills development in these areas to ensure demand is met and young people can
enter the workforce.
More than 600 heavily subsidised priority courses will help train people in areas that will lead to jobs.
The government is committed to support vocational education and training and will subsidise, on average,
more than 80 per cent of the costs of training in 2015. Enrolments for 2015 are open now.
For more information please call the ApprentiCentre on 13 19 54 or visit
www.dtwd.wa.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx

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PIA NEWS VOL.5 | Issue 03

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR A YOUTH SPORTS COORDINATOR: EDMUND RICE CENTRE

The Youth Sports Coordinator is responsible for the planning and implementation of the local parks programs
including the coordination and staffing of the activities and will work with and be directly responsible to the
Director of the Centre.
Roles & Responsibilities
Liaise with local schools, Migrant Resource Centres, Community Health Agencies, WA Police, Sporting
Associations and Clubs to promote the programs, ascertain needs and develop networks and partnerships.
Advertise, inform and register participants for the program.
Develop and implement strategies to integrate participants into mainstream sporting clubs.
Develop and provide strategies for associations and clubs to become more culturally inclusive.
Manage, support and monitor youth workers and volunteers and ensure they have opportunities to expand and
develop their capabilities and effectiveness.
Provide opportunities for potential leaders from within the target group and volunteers to develop leadership
and management skills.
Provide sport & recreation information, advice and support to the parents of participants.
To deliver sports programs.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Essential:
1. A relevant degree/diploma
2. High degree of initiative, efficiency and organisational skills
3. Ability to work as a member of a team as well as independently
4. A high level of computer literacy and word-processing skills
5. Excellent written and verbal communication skills
6. A strong commitment and sensitivity to working with marginalised communities
7. Ability and experience in managing other staff and volunteers
8. Ability to deliver programs in a variety of sports and to work flexible hours
9. Police Clearance and Working with Children Check
Desirable:
1. A commitment to the principles and ethos of the Edmund Rice Centre Mirrabooka
2. A good working knowledge of local resources and agencies
3. Experience in working with young people
4. Some experience in community development with marginalized communities
5. A current Driver's License
Postal applications accepted with covering letter, response to selection criteria, resume, and 2 professional
referees to: The Director PO Box 613 Mirrabooka WA 6941 by 4pm Monday 9th February 2015

PIA NEWS VOL.5 | Issue 03

IN BRIEF:
AUSAID ALUMNI GRANTS ARE NOW OPEN
AUSAID FELLOWSHIPS WILL BE OPEN THIS MONTH
AMUNC 2015 UPDATES can be read at http://us9.campaignarchive1.com/?u=ac3653f8081653beb1465a476&id=44891b0963&e=684d444760
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN
PIA AGM AND MEMBERSHIP
The AGM is planned for 14th March so it is time when all memberships are due for the year 2015 and SAVE the
DATE foe 21st March 2015 for Pakistan Day and launch of our Annual Report.