ISLAMABAD, Tuesday, July 29, 2025 (WNP): Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Jemal Beker Abdula, on Tuesday held a detailed meeting with Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman and Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Muhammad Ali Randhawa, to explore joint initiatives in city planning, ecological restoration, and people-to-people exchanges in a promising step toward environmental diplomacy and urban collaboration.

The high-level meeting, held at CDA Headquarters, centered on building synergies between the capitals of Pakistan and Ethiopia, with proposals ranging from afforestation drives to formalizing a sister-city agreement between Islamabad and Addis Ababa.

Ambassador Beker proposed Ethiopian participation in Islamabad’s ongoing Margalla Hills plantation drive, aligning it with Ethiopia’s successful Green Corridor Project in Addis Ababa. In a positive response, Chairman Randhawa announced the allocation of dedicated land in Islamabad for the establishment of an “Ethiopia–Pakistan Fraternity Park”, under the umbrella of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative.

“Islamabad’s transformation into a green, modern capital is a shared vision, and Ethiopia’s experience can greatly contribute to that goal,” said Chairman Randhawa.

He also briefed the ambassador on CDA’s current projects, including water channel rehabilitation, eco-park development, and initiatives focused on sustainable infrastructure and smart city planning.

Ambassador Beker expressed admiration for Islamabad’s urban development and environmental management, commending CDA’s efforts under Randhawa’s leadership.

“CDA’s achievements have made Islamabad one of the most scenic and livable cities in the region. Ethiopia looks forward to learning from Pakistan’s capital city governance and deepening collaboration,” he stated.

The discussion also covered potential cooperation in smart city technologies, riverbank rehabilitation, and urban innovation, with both sides agreeing on the value of institutional partnerships and technical exchanges.

A standout proposal from the meeting was the sister-city partnership between Islamabad and Addis Ababa—a move aimed at bolstering diplomatic, cultural, and technical cooperation through sustained engagement in sustainable urbanism and community-based green projects.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to advance bilateral collaboration in climate resilience, urban planning, and cultural diplomacy—paving the way for a greener and more connected future between Pakistan and Ethiopia.