Pakistani parliamentary delegation, visiting Indian Speaker stress goodwill

Pakistan-Indian Parliamentary Friendship Group (PFG) met with Indian parliamentary delegation on Wednesday [22 February] at National Assembly Secretariat, parliamentarians of both sides agreed that the enhanced interaction between the parliamentarians could boost bilateral friendly ties.

This was the first bilateral meeting of Pakistan-India PFG with the Indian parliamentarians jointly chaired by MNA [member of National Assembly] Qamar Zaman Kaira and Ms Meira Kumar, Speaker, Indian Lok Sabha [lower house of Indian parliament], said a press release issued by National Assembly Secretariat here on Wednesday.

It is pertinent to note that Speaker, National Assembly is the president of Pakistan-India friendship group in the National Assembly, who has nominated Qamar Zaman Kaira PFG as convener.

It was agreed that dialogue was the only way forward in addressing the contentious issues between both the countries and peace is the only way to regional prosperity and harmony.

Qamar Zaman Kaira said that Pakistan and India not only share boundaries but were intertwined in bonds of culture, history and heritage. He said that both the countries shared common problems, therefore, a common strategy needed to be forged to address those problems.

He said that regular interaction between the parliamentarians of both the countries was the only way forward for normalizing bilateral relations.

Qamar Zaman Kaira further said that Pakistan has been victim of terrorism and the terrorism which pose threat to the region. "Parliamentary Friendship Group can play a key role in the promotion of peace, progress and prosperity of both the countries, Qamar Zaman Kaira added.

Speaker, Lok Sabha Ms Meira Kumar, reciprocating the remarks of the convener, PFG, said that it was indeed a pleasure to visit Pakistan and she had brought with her message of goodwill, friendship, peace and prosperity for the people of Pakistan.

She said that relationship between both the countries was not confined to politics and trade alone; rather these were based on emotional and cultural grounds. She agreed that regular interaction between parliamentarians and people of both the countries would remove misperceptions against each other and create better understanding.

She said that people of India wish to see cordial relations between both the countries. She said that all the contentious issues needed to be resolved through dialogue.

Members of the meeting from either side expressed satisfaction over the recent developments in the relations between Pakistan and India.

Referring to the economic and commercial ties between Pakistan and India, parliamentarians said that immense economical potential exists in both the countries, which needed to be exploited for mutual benefit of both the nations. The parliamentarians insisted on more trade between Pakistan and India.

The meeting was first of its kind in which parliamentarians of both the countries met together and discussed areas of concerns existing between the two countries on the invitation of the Speaker, National Assembly. The meeting held between the two countries in a very friendly and soft environment.

Qamar Zaman Kaira on behalf of Pakistan-India PFG group extended invitation to the members of India-Pakistan friendship group. The Lok Sabha Speaker was presented with souvenir by Qamar Zaman Kaira.

The meeting was attended by MNAs Syed Sumsam Ali Bukhari, Hamayun Saifullah Khan, Kashmala Tariq, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Begum Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Nawab Yousaf Talpur, Nadeem Afzal Chand, Shakeela Khanam Rashid, Sabeen Rizvi and Pir Aftab Shah Jeelani.