The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, who is currently visiting Sri Lanka, said on Sunday that Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Sri Lanka, in both bilateral and regional context.
Justice Jamali said there is a strong desire in Pakistan to further develop and promote the bilateral relationship between the two friendly countries.
He also commended the government of Sri Lanka for taking admirable initiatives to promote interfaith harmony, reconciliation and national unity between all the segments of society.
The High Commissioner of Pakistan in Sri Lanka Maj Gen (R) Syed Shakeel Hussain said that economic cooperation coupled with the peaceful resolution of disputes will pave the way for a promising future for not just the South Asian region but also for the world at large.
The high commissioner said this while delivering his message on the occasion of the 70th Independence Day of Pakistan today (Sunday) in Colombo.
Hussain said that the government of Pakistan is actively engaged with all neighbouring countries in an effort to create a peaceful neighbourhood and at the same time intensifying economic engagement with all friendly countries.
He underlined that Pakistan is entering into a new era of development, prosperity, peace and political stability, as the government and people are unanimous in their resolve to make Pakistan democratic, welfare and prosperous.
On Pakistan-Sri Lanka relations, he explained that historical and cultural links between our two peoples date back to the time when the Indus Valley and Gandhara civilisations prospered in what is now Pakistan. He added that Pakistan and Sri Lanka are continuing to nurture their mutually beneficial relations in diverse fields. He added that both countries are exploring ways to broaden and deepen the economic ties, through enhancement of trade and bilateral investments, within the framework of the Free Trade Agreement as our top most priority.
The high commissioner highlighted that the state visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Sri Lanka in January 2016, is a testimony to the fact that both countries attach great importance to this mutually beneficial relationship. He elaborated that during the visit both sides agreed to expand cooperation in the areas of higher education, industrial development, shipping, disaster management, peaceful use of nuclear technology, and exchange of expertise in various areas of mutual interests. The leadership’s decisions are being followed up vigorously with the exchange of high-level delegations, he added.
CJP Jamali was the chief guest on the occasion.