Caretaker Planning Minister for Development and Special Initiatives Muhammad Sami Saeed has reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan while highlighting the importance of the long-standing economic cooperation and friendship between the two countries.

The minister made these remarks while speaking to the media after the opening ceremony of Second Azerbaijan National Urban Forum & Global Observance of World Habitat Day 2023, themed 'Resilient cities as a driving force of economic development and fighting inequalities'.

It was organized by the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of the Republic of Azerbaijan in collaboration with the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in Zangilan as part of the Azerbaijan Urban Week.

“The government of Pakistan and its people fully support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan and expresses solidarity with the country,” said the minister, while talking to the media after the opening ceremony of an event where Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev was the chief guest.

The planning minister appreciated the government of Azerbaijan for conducting a successful Second National Urban Forum, which plays a vital role in the reconstruction of destroyed cities with the theme of 'Resilient cities as a driving force of economic development and fighting inequalities'.

He noted the positive trajectory of Pakistan-Azerbaijan relations and reiterated resolve to further strengthen relations with focus on different fields like trade, connectivity, energy, tourism and Information Technology.

During his visit, the minister met with the chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning & Architecture of Azerbaijan, Anar Guliyev, and discussed various avenues of collaboration between the two countries.

The planning minister also highlighted the recently launched 'Resilient, Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Framework (4RF)' for Pakistan's floods of 2022. He said Pakistan was badly hit by the flashfloods that affected 33 million people, and this Framework would help in making a resilient infrastructure.

The minister also interacted with his counterparts from Kyrgyzstan and Cambodia and discussed matters of mutual interest.