LAHORE - Ambassador of Norway in Pakistan, Leif H Larsen on Thursday said that his country was desirous of exploring opportunities of mutual cooperation with Pakistan in the economic field.
“At the cultural level, the cooperation already exists; but the two countries are yet to move forward in the realm of economic cooperation”, the Norwegian envoy said while addressing a ceremony held at a local hotel to mark the official opening of Norwegian Honorary Consulate in Lahore.  
He said that Norway was taking interest in preservation and restoration of historical monuments in Pakistan.
“We are working on restoration project of Shahi Hammam at Lahore Fort and Masjid Wazir Khan in collaboration with Agha Khan Foundation”, he said.
Larsen said it was a matter of great satisfaction and pleasure for him that 55,000 Pakistanis had chosen Norway to live there and contribute in its development.
He hoped that with the establishment of Honorary Consulate in Lahore economic cooperation would start between the two countries.
Honorary Consul, Ms Naveen Fareed said she would utilise her potential to bring the two countries closer in the economic field.
She also thanked the Norwegian Ambassador for reposing confidence in her to undertake this responsibility.
Ms Naveen is daughter of Humayun Fareed, a businessman.
Humayun Fareed himself is Honorary Consul of Bangladesh in Lahore while one of his sons is Honorary Consul of Philippines here.  
Speaking on the occasion, Education Minister Rana Mashhood, who represented Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, said the opening of Consulate office in Lahore would go a long way in enhancing mutual cooperation between the two countries.
Diplomats, retired and serving civil servants, businessmen, and showbiz personalities attended the ceremony.
Begum Zakia Shah Nawaz, Mian Misbahur Rehman, Punjab Secretary Information, Momin Agha, Shamshad Ahmad, former Secretary Information Punjab, Shaukat Ali Shah, Maj Gen (Retd) Ghulam Mustafa Kausar, Madiha Gohar and PML-N Media Coordinator, Muhammad Mehdi were prominent on the occasion.