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Pakistan, Italy to promote parliamentary cooperation
ISLAMABAD May 04 : A delegation of Pakistan Senate, led by chairman Senate, Mohammadmian Soomro met the President of Italian chamber of Deputies, Pier Ferdinando Casini last evening, according to a message received here from Rome Wednesday.
During the meeting, matters of mutual interest including promotion of bilateral and parliamentary cooperation, regional and international issues came under discussion. Both sides agreed to have greater exchange of parliamentary, students, business and youth delegations to enhance interaction between the parliaments of the two countries. They also underscored the need of enhancing technical cooperation in education, energy and cultural fields. Both sides further agreed to institutionalize parliamentary cooperation. Chairman senate invited the president of Italian chamber of deputies for an official visit to Pakistan.
Chairman senate said that close interaction between the parliaments and exchange of delegations at various levels add a new dimension to people contact between the two countries. He appreciated the invitation by the Italian chamber of deputies to Pakistan senate delegation and added that the direct link between the two parliaments would further promote cooperation between the two countries.
The chairman Senate expressed the hope that the cooperation between the two parliaments would continue in an effective manner to promote the bilateral relations. The chairman senate informed the president of Italian chamber of deputies about the progress Pakistan has made in the economic, political and social fields. On the external front, he briefed the President of Italian chamber of deputies how Pakistan, along with its international partners, is playing a vital role in the global fight against terrorism. He said that Pakistan is a moderate country and believes in “interfaith harmony’. In this context, he referred to the President’s vision of enlightened moderation to promote understanding between Western and Muslim world. He said that Pakistan is an open minded society and there is no gender discrimination. Chairman senate said that women in Pakistan are playing important role in the socio-economic development of the country. They have been given 33% representation at each level of representative institutions, added the senate chairman.
Earlier, welcoming the delegation, the President of Italian chamber of Deputies, Casini said that the visit of Pakistan senate delegation would provide a valuable opportunity to enhance parliamentary cooperation and further strengthening of friendly relations between Pakistan and Italy.
Appreciating chairman senate’s contribution for boosting parliamentary cooperation, he hoped that the visit of Pakistan senate delegation would promote good will and mutual understanding between the two countries. Casini particularly mentioned the bold steps taken by Pakistan in the fight against terrorism.
The member of the delegation Senators Syed Sajjad Hussain, ahMED Ali, Dr. Muhammad Ali Brohi, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Sardar Mehmood Khan, Naeem Hussain Chattha, Muhammad Enver Gaig, Raja Muhammad Amin, Secretary senate of Pakistan, and Pakistan’s Ambassador in Rome, Mirza Qamar Beg were also present during the meeting.
Casini later hosted a lunch in honour of chairman senate and his delegation.
Chairman senate is scheduled to meet Marcello Pera, President of the Italian senate on Wednesday. He will also give a talk on “Corporate Governance in Pakistan” at centro Italiano Per La Concilliazione Internatzionale. The chairman senate will also give civil awards to two Italian mountaineers at an investiture ceremony arranged at the residence of Ambassador of Pakistan.