Egypt proposes Karachi-Alexandria sister-city ties at Governor House

Egypt has proposed establishing sister-city relations between Karachi and Alexandria, a move the Sindh governor says could strengthen economic, cultural and people-to-people bonds between Pakistan and Egypt. The proposal was raised by Egyptian Ambassador Dr Ehab Abdelhamid during a meeting with Governor Syed Muhammad Nehal Hashmi at Governor House in Karachi, where the two sides discussed expanding bilateral cooperation.

According to Business Recorder, the ambassador said Alexandria, Egypt's largest port city, and Karachi, Pakistan's financial and maritime hub, could build closer institutional links through a sister-city arrangement. The discussion covered religious and historical tourism, education, trade, youth exchanges and sports.

The Daily Times reported that the meeting also covered other matters of mutual interest between the two countries. Governor Hashmi welcomed the proposal, saying stronger city-level ties would bring the peoples and governments of Pakistan and Egypt closer and help them promote their shared historical and cultural heritage.

Hashmi said sister-city cooperation could open avenues for trade and economic engagement, while student exchange programmes and youth delegations would strengthen people-to-people contacts. He added that Pakistan and Egypt had considerable potential to cooperate in tourism, education, trade and sports.

On the sporting front, the Egyptian ambassador said he would work to facilitate exchanges between Pakistani and Egyptian football teams and to explore organising an exhibition match in Karachi, Business Recorder reported. The governor assured the ambassador of his full support for initiatives to expand bilateral cooperation in various fields.

The ambassador recorded his impressions in the visitors' book at Governor House at the end of the meeting.