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Islamabad, June 08, 2013 (PPI-OT): The Foreign Minister of Germany, Mr. Guido Westerwelle who is leading an 8-Member delegation met the Speaker National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq today in his Chamber and discussed with him matters of mutual interest.
The German Foreign Minister lauded the peaceful and smooth transfer of power in Pakistan and said that the process defined the present and future role of Germany in further improving its relationship with Pakistan and expressed their resolve to join efforts with the government of Pakistan in addressing the huge challenges that the people of Pakistan faced today.
The Speaker thanked the delegation for taking interest in Pakistan and said that there was peaceful transition from one government to another smoothly completed as a historic event and one of the milestone that was set was to notified Leader of the Opposition in the country.
This all, he said, indicated commitment of the people of his country to democracy, accountability, transparency and protecting human rights as well as upholding rule of law through the mechanism of representative Institutions.
He also hailed Germany for leading a European Union delegation to Pakistan to observe elections and for presenting their report on the successful process of the polls.
The Speaker said that Pakistan was making concerted efforts to bring about peace in Afghanistan as it guaranteed development in Pakistan and the region as a whole. He expressed resolve of his country to see that terrorism that hindered progress should be fought jointly with the cooperation of international community.
The Speaker also referred to the need of promoting Parliamentary relations with Germany and both sides agreed that these relations should be strengthened through continued exchanges of delegations and also by constituting and convening meetings of the Parliamentary Friendship Groups in the National Assembly of Pakistan and the German Bundestag.
The German Foreign Minister said that he would share the views of the Speaker with his colleagues in Germany and after elections in Germany in September 2013; these new developments in both the countries would receive further momentum.
Mr. Westerwelle said that they were keen in developing their existing bilateral Chamber of Commerce in Karachi to boost up economic development as it would benefit the business communities in both the countries. He also pointed out that the German government was also interested in providing the similar facility in Lahore and other parts of the country so that even progress in Pakistan could be speeded up.
On this occasion, the Speaker appreciated German efforts but also mentioned defence restrictions in certain fields. The German Foreign Minister said that though there were couple of issues to be addressed but there was no defence embargo specifically for Pakistan.
They agreed with the Speaker that the international community, particularly Germany as an old friend of Pakistan needed to come forward in assisting his country overcoming its energy crisis, making Pakistan agriculturally developed and socially prosperous.
The Speaker particularly wanted the Parliament building to be converted into green landscape. He also wanted Germany to help Pakistan to go solar in developing its energy sector.
The Speaker told the visiting delegation that the government was committed to appointing professional heads of all important companies generating energy and other important sectors through advertisement and transparent procedure, which the German side appreciated.
Both sides agreed to exchanging delegations between them so that the two countries’ real perceptions and realities could be unfolded to the people. In this way, negative media impression could be addressed, they agreed.
At the end, the German Foreign Minister and his delegation congratulated the Speaker National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on the successful elections in Pakistan and expressed their desire to working with the newly democratically elected government of Pakistan and said that they were keen to assist Pakistan in all fields.
For more information, contact:
Karamat Hussain Niazi
Secretary
National Assembly of Pakistan
Parliament House, Islamabad
Tel: +9251 922 1082 -83
Fax: +9251 922 1106