By Adnan Hameed TWA ______ The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on Thursday agreed to collaborate in diverse sectors of education including science and technology, agriculture, health and ICT. This was agreed upon during a meeting between Jemal Beker Abdula, Special Envoy and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of FDR Ethiopia to Pakistan, and Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The meeting that took place at the Ethiopian Embassy Islamabad mainly discussed the modalities to advance mutual cooperation in education sector to exchange knowledge, skills and expertise. Ambassador Jemal Beker said the Government of FDR Ethiopia was keen to strengthen the already flourishing bilateral ties between the two nations through education diplomacy. “Collaboration in education sector can be instrumental for establishing long-lasting and sustainable relations between the two countries,” he said while recalling the eagerness of the Ethiopian medical experts, who studied from Pakistani universities, to visit Pakistan for helping those who were affected by flash floods in 2022. He said a delegation from a top class university in Ethiopia had visited Pakistan in 2023 that shown there is a strong appetite in Ethiopia for establishing institution-to-institution collaboration between the two countries. The Ambassador briefed the HEC Chairman on a plantation campaign led by the Ethiopian Embassy Islamabad in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change, universities, civil society and business community across Pakistan under the Green Legacy Initiative of Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, for fostering fraternity between the two great nations. On the other side, the Chairman of HEC briefed the Ambassador on advancement and digitalization in education sector that included establishment of digital libraries and smart class rooms giving access to education to the millions of students in Pakistan and abroad. He assured the Ambassador of all-out support for strengthening cooperation and collaboration in education sector between Ethiopia and Pakistan. The HEC chairman also extended invitation to the Ambassador to visit the HEC Headquarters and also requested for facilitating delegations exchange between the two countries for furthering collaboration in education sector. “Let us help each other in education sector for building strong nations together for global prosperity,” he remarked. He informed the Ambassador about opening of Global Engagement Department at HEC which would have a desk for Africa with special focus on Ethiopia.