Islamabad, September 29, 2026: The Embassy of the Czech Republic hosted a reception in Islamabad to mark Czech Statehood Day and Czech Armed Forces Day, bringing together diplomats, ambassadors, high commissioners, civil society representatives, media personnel and guests from various walks of life.
Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr. Musadik Malik attended the reception as the chief guest.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Musadik Malik highlighted the steady progress in Pakistan-Czech Republic relations, saying the two countries had maintained friendly ties for more than seven decades.
He expressed hope that bilateral relations would continue to expand in the coming years, particularly in areas of mutual interest.
Referring to the longstanding familiarity of Czech brands in Pakistan, the minister mentioned Bata shoes, a Czech-origin brand that has become widely recognised across the country.
In a lighter moment, Dr. Musadik Malik said both he and his father had worn Bata shoes since childhood, observing that the brand had helped make the Czech name familiar to generations of Pakistanis.
The minister also praised the beauty of the Czech Republic, saying it was a country he would like to visit repeatedly.
Czech Ambassador to Pakistan Ladislav Steinhübel thanked the chief guest for his positive remarks and warm sentiments towards the Czech Republic.
The ambassador said Pakistan and the Czech Republic enjoyed friendly relations and maintained cooperation across various fields.
He noted that several Czech companies were successfully operating in Pakistan and expressed the desire of both countries to further strengthen bilateral ties, particularly in trade, business and economic cooperation.
The reception concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony attended by the chief guest, the Czech ambassador and other distinguished guests.
