October 08, 2017
News
Pakistan values its relations with UK: NA speaker
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Saturday said that Pakistan highly valued its relations with the United Kingdom (UK) and desired to strengthen the existing relations between the two countries through enhanced economic cooperation and parliamentary ties.
The speaker expressed those views in a meeting with British parliamentarian, Lord Malcolm Gray Bruce. The Speaker said that Pakistan attached great importance to its strategic partnership with the UK and both countries had commonalities of views on regional and global issues. He underscored the need for regular interaction between political leadership, parliamentarians and people of both the countries.
The Speaker also urged Lord Bruce to take up the issue of Indian atrocities against innocent citizens in Kashmir. He added that Pakistan was committed to the UN resolutions for self-determination of the Kashmiri people and wanted to settle the dispute with discussions. Sadiq appreciated the UK’s assistance to Pakistan in strengthening legislative capacity of the Parliament and efforts undertaken to promote an inclusive democracy in Pakistan. He added that Parliamentary cooperation between the two nations needed to receive a new vigor.
The speaker informed Lord Bruce of the introduction of a subject on parliamentary practices and legislative drafting in Pakistan’s universities and educational institutes. He also discussed the steps taken for austerity measures in the National Assembly Secretariat.
Lord Bruce appreciated the remarks of the speaker and said that the UK considered Pakistan one of its close friends and an important trading partner. He said that the UK would expand the scope of its assistance plan and assist Pakistan in various fields. He assured the speaker of extending maximum assistance for building the legislative capacity of the parliamentarians. The lord also praised the efforts made by the Pakistan parliamentarians regarding the electoral reforms; for free, fair and transparent elections in the country. While discussing the role of Parliamentary Friendship Group, he said that the friendship groups in both parliaments could play an important role in strengthening bilateral relations.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk