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Pakistan–South Korea relations

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Pakistan-South Korea relations
Map indicating locations of Pakistan and South Korea

Pakistan
South Korea

Pakistan–South Korea relations refers to bilateral diplomatic relationship between Pakistan and South Korea. Since the 1980s, the relations between the two Asian states have improved and periodically enhanced. Pakistan has an embassy in Seoul, South Korea,[1][2] and South Korea has an embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan.[3][4] Pakistan is one of the few countries that have good relations with both North Korea and South Korea.

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See also: Pakistan–South Korea Free Trade Agreement

Bilateral trade between the two countries is around US$1.1 billion.[5] Both sides have expressed interest to further promote the trade and investment relationship between the two countries. KOTRA (Korea Trade Centre) is playing vital role in enhancing the trade relation between Korea and Pakistan.[6]

Immigration

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Main article: Pakistanis in South Korea

In 2005, there were up to 7,000 Pakistanis living in South Korea.[7]

Bilateral visits

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In November 2003, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf paid a three-day official visit to Seoul, South Korea.[8] In spite of Pakistan's friendly relationship with North Korea, Pakistan maintains a strong base in South Korea, with more trade agreements with South Korea and friendly treaty signed by both countries. Recently in 2013, South Korean PM visited Pakistan during his visit many resolutions were signed of cooperation in defense, production and economic cooperation and science and technology with a grant of $10 million to SUPARCO.

Bilateral agreements and MOUs

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A significant boost in the bilateral cooperation has been observed in recent years. From tourism to defense, the two countries are expanding their relations. HE Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the ambassador of Pakistan in ROK, is very keen to connect bilateral R&D sectors. Pakistan have recently joined the Global Green Growth Institute, headquartered in Seoul.[9] A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) and Institute of Foreign Affairs & National Security (IFANS) Seoul, South Korea.[10] In a recent bid, an agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons was signed between Pakistan and the Republic of Korea.[11] In a bid to boost cultural interaction between Korea and Pakistan and responding to Prime Minister of Pakistan's initiative to promote religious tourism, particularly, Buddhist tourism in the country, over 60 members' delegation of Korean Buddhist pilgrims led by Ven. Wonhaeng, President of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism visited Pakistan.[12] Pakistan and Korea are exploring a plethora of avenues for cooperation in future, especially in Technology, trade, defense and R&D sector.

Cooperation

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Pakistani Ambassador to South Korea Nabeel Munir emphasized, during interview with Korean Media, the importance of economic cooperation between Pakistan and South Korea in trade, investment, and science and technology, citing South Korea's low birth rate as an example.

Nabeel Munir said in an interview with The Korea Times at the embassy in Pakistan in 2024:[13]

"The population is declining. Pakistan has another problem. 65 percent of 240 million are young people. They are between the ages of 19 and 35, so the young people are educated and trained, so the Korean economy can take advantage of them."

Korean companies in Pakistan

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Federal Minister for Commerce Engineer Khurram Dastgir visited South Korea in July 2015 and discussed bilateral trade and possibility of FTA.[14][15][16]

South Korea has agreed to provide a loan of 78 million dollars for the construction of a tunnel in Malakand Pass. Feasibility report of the tunnel has been jointly prepared by National Highway Authority and South Korean consultants.[17]

30 years of Pak-Korea relations[18]

Korean companies working in Pakistan

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National Transmission & Despatch Company Limited (NTDCL) and Korea Electric Power Company (KEPCO) have signed a consultancy contract for designing, engineering and construction supervision of 500 Kv Dasu-Islamabad transmission line in Feb-2015.[20]

Sambu Construction Co. Ltd, KEPCO initiated a BOI Mahl Hydro Power Project (500 mW) at Mahl river, District Bagh, AJK in 2005. It was run-of-the-river power generation.[23]

FOUNDATION POWER COMPANY DAHARKI LIMITED (FPCDL) entered into an agreement with KEPCO KPS Plant Services and Engineering Company Limited of South Korea for Operation and Maintenance,[24] Kicked off the Daharki Cogen Power Plant O&M in Feb. 2009.[25]

In 2008, a delegation of the consortium of KEPCO and the DOOSAN of Republic of Korea had come to Islamabad with a very attractive offer to participate in power generation projects, but government response was lukewarm. After three years, Doosan and Kepco, in consortium with other Korean investors, have renewed their offer in a meeting with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on 21 January 2011.[26]

Korean M/s Sambu Construction Co. Ltd, Korea Midland Power Company Limited (KOMIPO) and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) showed interest to construct Taunsa Barrage Hydropower Project (120 MW) on BOT basis with 100 percent financing of US$300 million in November 2008.[22]

In September 2002, KEPCO showed interest in Rehabilitation, Operation, Maintenance and Management (ROMM)of 150 MW Fluidized Bed Combustion coal-fired power plant Lakhra near Khanote in District Jamshoro, Sindh. No interest from Pakistan government was noticed on it.[27]

During the Sindh chief minister's visit to South Korea in 2011 an MoU to generate 2000 MW of wind energy was signed with Korea Southern Power Company.

Mira Power Limited is a special purpose company, set up to design, construct, own, operate and maintain 100 MW Gulpur hydro power plant under Government of Pakistan's Policy for Power Generation Projects 2002 as adopted in Azad Jammu & Kashmir. Mira Power Limited is a subsidiary of Korea South East Power Co. Ltd (KOSEP)[29] which is fully owned subsidiary of Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). Project shareholders are KOSEP[30] (76%), DAELIM(18%), LOTTE (6%).

Gulpur Hydropower Project: On 15 Oct 2015, Mira Power started construction of 102 MW Gulpur Hydropower project at Kotli, Azad and Jammu Kashmir.[31]

Kotli Hydropower Project, Kotli District, Poonch River, AJK. In May, 2015, Asian Development Bank (ADB) said it will provide US$65 Million loan to Mira Power Limited, a South Korean Company, for build and operation.[32] Projected completion was in March 2019.

Kia is the third-largest carmaker in sales in Pakistan.[13]

Star Hydropower Limited (SHPL) and Sambu Construction Co. Korea initiated a Patring Hydropower Project (150MW) in 2005 at Patrind, AJK. The scope of project was diversion of Kunhar river water (KPK) to fall from height through a tunnel for power generation at AJK side. Its estimated cost was US$360 million with 25% equity and financing from IFC, Korean Exim Bank and IDB.

Korean Companies Looking for Opportunities

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Overall Pakistan has supported a reunification of Korea.

Software Technology Park in Islamabad

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An agreement was signed in Islamabad on 21 March 2017, between Ministry of Information Technology and Korea Exim Bank for ten billion rupee loan agreement for Pakistan first state-of-the-art information technology park.[35][36]

Role of the PKCC

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Pak-Korea Culture Collaboration (PKCC) Is a group of Karachi-based young Pakistanis, seeking to enhance the cultural relations of Pakistan and the ROK. The youth have been greatly successful in their mission, collaborating with the Korean consulate in Karachi on several occasions to hold festivals and events. Bringing the two asian nations together culturally and bilaterally.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Kumar, Sanjay (2022-02-08). "Pakistan embassy holds exhibition on journey through Pakistan". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  2. ^ "Contact Us | Embassy of Pakistan, Republic of Korea". Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  3. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (2022-02-09). "Korean embassy taking steps to resolve students' visa issue". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  4. ^ "Location/ContactEmbassy of the Republic of Korea to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan". overseas.mofa.go.kr. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  5. ^ The Korea Herald (2010-03-29). "Friendship with Korea marks Pakistan national day". Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  6. ^ "Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan". 2012-10-22. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  7. ^ "Yearbook 2004-05, Government of Pakistan, Ministry of Labour, Manpower & Overseas Pakistanis, (Overseas Pakistanis Division), Islamabad" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-05-24.
  8. ^ "Daily Times - Site Edition". 2004-11-20. Archived from the original on 20 November 2004. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  9. ^ "Pakistan joins the Global Growth Institute". Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  10. ^ "Memorandum of Understanding between Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) and Institute of Foreign Affairs & National Security (IFANS) Seoul, South Korea". Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  11. ^ "Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons signed between Pakistan and the Republic of Korea". Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  12. ^ "Korean Buddhist Pilgrims visited Pakistan 상세보기|Bilateral RelationsEmbassy of the Republic of Korea to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan". overseas.mofa.go.kr. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  13. ^ a b "INTERVIEW". The Korea Times. March 22, 2024.
  14. ^ "Dastgir departs for South Korea to boost bilateral trade". Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  15. ^ "Pakistan, S Korea likely to work on FTA". 2015-07-07. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  16. ^ "BoI organises business, trade investment forum in South Korea". Business Recorder. 2015-07-16. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  17. ^ "S Korea to provide $ 78 million loan for Malakand Tunnel". Daily Pakistan Global. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  18. ^ "30 years of Pak-Korea relations". Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  19. ^ "- KEPCO MAIN | KEPCO -". home.kepco.co.kr.
  20. ^ a b "Korean firm gets consultancy contract of 500kv Dasu transmission line". The Nation. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  21. ^ Mati ur Rehman. "KEPCO, NTDC sign deal to build 500KV Dasu-Islamabad transmission line". Customs Today Newspaper. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  22. ^ a b "Korean companies interested to construct Taunsa Barrage Hydropower Project". Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-08-03.
  23. ^ Kiani, Khaleeq (2009-12-21). "Bureaucracy stalls $800m hydel project". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  24. ^ "FPCDL". Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  25. ^ "KPS한전 KPS주식회사". Archived from the original on 2014-08-05. Retrieved 2015-08-03.
  26. ^ "Developing Thar coalfields for power generation". Business Recorder. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  27. ^ ceo@cybercity-online.net, Zahid Ikram...Webmasrer & CEO of CCOL. "AHMED JAFFER & COMPANY (PVT) LTD. (AJCL), Karachi - Hot & Popular Products / Services By Yellow Pages of Pakistan". www.findpk.com.
  28. ^ "Welcome to Mira Power Limited Website".
  29. ^ "한국남동발전(주)". August 13, 2015. Archived from the original on August 13, 2015.
  30. ^ "한국남동발전". July 12, 2009. Archived from the original on July 12, 2009.
  31. ^ "ePaper - DAWN.COM". epaper.dawn.com.
  32. ^ "Addressing shortages: ADB promises $65m for hydroelectric power project". The Express Tribune. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  33. ^ a b c d e f "South Korea interested in Pakistan's port infrastructure". The News International. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  34. ^ "Wayback Machine" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  35. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (2017-03-22). "South Korean bank agrees to give $76m for IT park". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  36. ^ "Pakistan, South Korea sign Rs10b loan agreement for IT Park in Islamabad". Latest News - The Nation. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
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