ISLAMABAD:Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has said that United Arab Emirates was not only a brotherly country but a partner in progress and development. He said that Pakistan and UAE are intwined in mutual religion, culture and history. He said that both countries shared same goals of shared prosperity and regional development. He expressed these views during a meeting with UAE Ambassador in Pakistan Mr. Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Saleem Al-Zaabi in Parliament House, Islamabad today. Enhancement of bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest came under discussion.

Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf while talking to the Ambassador said that Pakistan and United Arab Emirates enjoyed long standing fraternal ties rooted firmly in common religion and culture. He said that it was also encouraging that both the countries enjoy significance convergence in political views on host of regional and global issues. He said that this convergence had provided both sides an opportunity to develop a strategic, broad based and compressive partnership in diverse sectors.

Referring to the warm Parliamentary relations between legislatures of both countries, the Speaker said that enhancing exchange of Parliamentary delegations would further solidify the bilateral relations. Reiterating invitation to his UAE counterpart to visit Pakistan, the Speaker said that it would be a matter of immense pleasure to receive him along with his delegation. The Speaker also said that Parliament could pave the way for enhancing bilateral trade and commercial activities.

Drawing attention of the UAE Ambassador about the atrocities being committed by tyrant Indian forces on innocent Kashmiris, the Speaker said that the world community should take cognisance of thee atrocities on innocent Kashmir and should strive for its resolution in accordance with the aspiration of people of Kashmir. He also said that peace in the region was directly linked with the regional development and prosperity.

The Speaker said that Pakistan is strategically located at Asia’s premier Trade, Energy and transport Corridor. He said that this advantage makes Pakistan a market full of opportunities. He stressed the need to devise mechanism to further enhance bilateral economic cooperation. He said that CPEC had generated immense economic opportunities in Pakistan.

UAE Ambassador felicitated Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on being elected unopposed as Speaker of National Assembly of Pakistan. He said that both the nations were tied in eternal bonds of religion, culture and history. He also reiterated that UAE had and would always stand by Pakistan in its pursuit for economic and social sector development.

He said that Pakistan is a land of opportunities and investors for UAE would certainly like to benefit. He also said that Parliamentarians from both the countries could bring their nations more closer. He extended his all-out efforts to facilitate such endeavours. Appreciating the role of diaspora in UAE, he said that they were playing a vital role in the Socio-economic development of UAE.