Pakistan's Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, met Suez Canal Authority (SCA) chief Osama Rabie on Wednesday to discuss boosting cooperation in maritime and trade sectors, the authority said. The visit, part of Mirza's official trip to Egypt, included talks on strengthening commercial and naval ties between the two countries. Rabie said the canal remains the "optimal sustainable route" for global trade, saving time, distance and fuel while cutting harmful emissions. He acknowledged that vessel traffic has been affected by tensions in the Red Sea but said the authority is applying flexible pricing and offering new maritime services to encourage major shipping lines to return. Mirza and his delegation, including Pakistan's ambassador to Cairo, toured the New Suez Canal, the Suez Canal Museum, and observed a ship transit simulation exercise. Rabie reaffirmed the canal's role as a vital artery for world trade, stressing its ability to adapt to both normal and crisis conditions. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
