PM leaves for five-day UK visit

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Tuesday left for a five-day visit to the United Kingdom.
The visit aims at widening the scope of strategic dialogue with the United Kingdom, enhancing mutual trade and public-to-public contact between the two nations.
Talking to reporters at Chaklala Airport prior to his departure, Gilani said he would bring to discussion matters pertaining to investment, trade, culture and contact between the people of the two countries.
Moreover, he would insist on increasing the volume of mutual trade to about £2.5 billion within the next three years, he added.
The PM said Pakistan sought the cooperation of the UK in elementary education.
He said the UK was undertaking a program investing £650 million in the arena of elementary education in Pakistan.
To a question about the Afghan problem, the prime minister said the UK was a prominent member of NATO and he would reaffirm Pakistan’s concerns about peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Gilani said he would hold meetings with British ministers, members of British Parliament and leader of the opposition in the British Parliament.
Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and Interior Minister Rehman Malik are also accompanying Gilani.
Meanwhile, a government spokesperson clarified that the delegation going to visit London comprised twelve members only and the news that the delegation had 70 members was hearsay.