ISLAMABAD Pakisatn News: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Wednesday termed the solution of long outstanding issues, including Kashmir with India, a prerequisite for durable peace in the region which will enable Pakistan to single mindedly focus on quelling militancy on its western borders. The Prime Minister was talking to Jonas Gahr Store, Foreign Minister of Norway who called on him alongwith his delegation on Wednesday.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and other officials were also present with on this occasion.
Prime Minister Gilani has urged for Norway's pro-active role in FODP to help Pakistan undertake reconstruction and development of the areas cleared from militants in FATA and NWFP, on fast track basis.
While appreciating Norwegian assistance in establishment of 350 community schools in FATA and for improvement of basic education in NWFP, the Prime Minister underlined the imperative of rebuilding the physical and socio-economic infrastructure in those areas and provision of job opportunity to the people there on immediate basis and underlined friendly countries like Norway's important role in that regard.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan considers Norway an important friend and partner and is keen to enhance and further strengthen the cordial bilateral ties in all areas of mutual interests.
He hoped that the annual bilateral consultations under the framework of Bilateral Cooperation would be held on regular basis to make progress towards strengthening of political, trade and economic cooperation.
The Prime Minister underscored the need for expansion of bilateral trade to attain its true potential and welcomed Norwegian Company Telenor's plans to invest $ 2 billion in Pakistan over the period of next five years.
He expressed the hope that the Norwegian government would also encourage its major companies in oil and gas, petroleum, chemicals, pharmaceutical, fertilizers as well as iron and steel manufacturing sectors to invest in Pakistan independently or through joint ventures with their Pakistani counterparts.
No comments:
Post a Comment