Islamabad - Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Monday said that political forces in Pakistan are united to root out terrorism from the country. He said that terrorism has become a global menace which needs concerted and coordinated efforts by all to wipe it out completely. He said this while talking to Foreign Minister of Norway Borge Brende who called on him here at the Parliament House.
The Speaker said that the scourge of terrorism has disrupted the civic life and economic activity in the country. He said that the cowardly attacks on schools, worship places and innocent civilians have forced the government to take stern action against the perpetrators. He was confident that the military initiative and stern laws would deter reoccurrence of such instances in future.
The speaker said that Pakistan attaches immense importance to its relations with Norway and desires to further strengthen them through reinvigorating parliamentary linkages between both the countries. He said that parliamentarians from either side would have an apt opportunity to share experiences and best practices.
Ayaz Sadiq appreciated the Norwegian support extended to Pakistan on various international forums. He said that the present government since its institution has focused on strengthening of economy, job creation and addressing energy shortages. He invited Norwegian investors to take advantage of investment friendly policies in Pakistan.
The foreign minister also condemned the incident of Army Public School Peshawar and expressed his heartfelt grief and sorrow over the loss of innocent lives in the incident.
Borge Brende said that Norway is appreciative of Pakistan’s sacrifices in fight against terrorism and would support Pakistan in its fight against this scourge. He said that Norway greatly values its relations with Pakistan and wants to further intensify them through diversification. He appreciated contributions of Pakistani expatriates in Norway who have been well integrated in Norwegian society. He assured the Speaker that Norwegian investors would certainly take advantage of pro-investment policies in Pakistan.
Later, Ambassador of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Luu called on the speaker national assembly at the Parliament House. Issues of mutual interest and ways and means to enhance parliamentary and bilateral relations between Pakistan and Vietnam came under discussion.
The speaker said that Pakistan attaches importance to its relations with Vietnam and wants to further diversify them through enhancing economic and parliamentary contacts. He also stressed for enhancing trade between the two countries. He asked the ambassador to influence Vietnamese investors to take advantage of pro-investment conditions in Pakistan. The ambassador thanked the speaker for his sentiments and assured him that his country also attaches importance to Pakistan and wants to strengthen parliamentary linkages. He said that Vietnam is interested in import of industrial products, agricultural products and machinery. He invited the speaker to visit Vietnam along with a parliamentary delegation in the Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference being held in Hanoi early next year. He also appreciated establishment of Pak-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group in the national assembly of Pakistan and assured its reciprocation in the Vietnamese assembly.