News
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Fehmida for enhancing parliamentary ties with USStaff Report
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza has reiterated the need to further strengthen existing bilateral relations between Pakistan and US through enhancing parliamentary ties and economic cooperation.
She said that parliamentarians of both the countries could help to build bridges of friendship and understanding between their respective nations. Fehmida Mirza was talking to US Ambassador to Pakistan, Cameron Munter, in Parliament House on Tuesday.
While talking to the ambassador, Fehmida said that friendship between both the countries is based on mutual trust and benefit, which has been gradually transformed into comprehensive strategic partnership in the recent years. She appreciated the support of US in diverse fields, specially the socio-economic sector in the country. She commended the US support during the devastating floods last year. The speaker said that Pakistan has been badly affected by the menace of terrorism and extremism and the government firmly resolves to fight this scourge with its indigenous resources, however, emphasised the need for ensuring the support of international community in this regard.
The ambassador while responding to the speaker’s observations said that US recognises Pakistan’s contribution and sacrifices made in the action against terrorism. He said that US was committed to help Pakistan in its socio-economic development. He said that US believed in a stable and prosperous Pakistan which was in the best interest of the region and the world. He said that US would help Pakistan to meet its energy shortages.
The ambassador agreed that interaction between parliamentarians of both the nations would build the trust and confidence between their governments and institutions. The US ambassador assured the speaker of his government’s support for the capacity building of parliamentarians, parliamentary support staff, library and research and establishment of Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services (PIPS).
Later, Ambassador of Japan, Hiroshi Oe, called on Fehmida Mirza. While talking to the ambassador, the speaker said that Pakistan attaches immense importance to its relations with Japan and considers it as its economic partner. She appreciated Japanese support for the socio-economic uplift in the rural areas of Pakistan, especially the flood-torn areas. She said that she strongly desires to strengthen existing Pak-Japan ties through parliamentary interaction. She informed that Pak-Japan Friendship Group has been established in National Assembly of Pakistan which will hold interactive meetings with their Japanese counterparts.
Hiroshi Oe appreciated the sentiments of the speaker and said that Japanese government highly values Pakistani support during this year’s devastating tsunami floods. He said that Japanese investors have shown keen interest in the investment policies of Pakistan and would invest in diverse fields. He agreed for enhancing parliamentary ties between the two friendly countries.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk