On May 10th, 2022, H.E. Dr. Zafar Iqbal, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Romania, delivered a guest lecture to the postgraduate students of Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE). The event was jointly organised by IRSEA, represented by H.E. Ambassador (p) Gheorghe Savuica, President & Founder, and the Faculty of International Business and Relations (REI) of Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE), represented by Prof. Dr. Anca Ilie, Vice-Dean of REI, as part of the 7th edition of “ASE International Week”. Asst. Prof. Dr. Laura Benchea, Director of the Department of International Relations, joined warmly to welcome the distinguished guest lecturer.
The topic presented by the Ambassador regarded a concise yet comprehensive presentation of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, including the country’s history, its rich culture as well as Pakistan’s Foreign Policy Guiding Principles and the so happily existing relations between Romania and Pakistan. With regard to the field of Economic International Relations, the Master’s Degree specialization followed by the postgraduates in the audience, the Ambassador presented the most recent economic relations initiatives launched by the Embassy of Pakistan in Romania.
One of Pakistan's most distinguished voices in Diplomacy, an active promoter of Romania-Pakistan relations, Ambassador Dr. Zafar Iqbal has been appointed as Ambassador of Pakistan to Romania, resident in Bucharest and concurrently accredited to the Republic of Moldova, in Dec 2019. He assumed responsibilities in July 2020.
A man of letters and distinguished specialist of International Relations, Ambassador Dr. Zafar is an alumnus of Civil Services Academy, Lahore (Pakistan), Foreign Service Academy, Islamabad (Pakistan), Al-Imam University, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Foreign Service Academy, Berlin (Germany), National School of Public Policy, Lahore (Pakistan), and Clingendael Academy, The Hague (The Netherlands). Over the years, Dr. Zafar has delivered lectures on the subjects of regional, global and human resource management issues as well as Pakistan foreign policy at the Diplomatic Academies of Pakistan, Germany and Ukraine and multiple universities in Berlin, Muenster, Kyiv, and Islamabad.
The captivating and intellectually stimulating Q&A session following the Ambassador’s presentation represented an outstanding opportunity for the students of ASE-REI to interact with and learn from the long experience and broad expertise of Ambassador Dr. Zafar Iqbal and deepen their knowledge in the field of Economic Diplomacy.
Co-organiser of the event and avid supporter of Europe-Asia international academic cooperation, Prof. Dr. Anca Ilie, one of the most prominent figures in the Romanian academia, warmly congratulated Ambassador Dr. Iqbal for his insightful presentation, while thanking him for sharing his views with the REI students.
On the occasion, IRSEA’s President and Founder, H.E. Ambassador (p) Gheorghe Savuica, former Ambassador of Romania to Pakistan, congratulated Ambassador Dr. Zafar Iqbal in the aftermath of the event, pointing his high dedication, outstanding expertise and fruitful experience as well as his tireless work to consolidate the bilateral relations between Romania and Pakistan.
Based on the existing partnership between IRSEA and ASE, the two institutions frequently, particularly with the assistance of REI, co-organise guest lectures, round-tables and webinars, hosting distinguished Ambassadors in Bucharest, influential International Relations professionals and academics.