Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said talks were necessary for permanent and solid relations between India and Pakistan. Speaking at a reception in honour of Indian parliamentary delegation led by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar at the Prime Minister’s House, Gilani hoped that the ongoing dialogue process with India would prove productive.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has accepted his suggestion for initiation of peace talks, Gilani said, adding that, “I respect Dr Manmohan Singh from the bottom of my heart and I share his desire for peace.”
The reception was attended by National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza and members of various political parties in the parliaments of Pakistan and India.
The prime minister said his government was committed to result-oriented, constructive and productive engagement with India. He urged both India and Pakistan to work together for the poor people and against hunger, disease and poverty in the two countries.
“We should think about the future of the people so that they can have drinking water, health and education,” he said, adding that relations between parliaments of the two countries could become stronger. He stressed on enhanced people-to-people contacts and exchange of parliamentary delegations. “Governments come and go, but the love of people remains and your visit will pave way for strengthening relations between the people,” he added.
Gilani said the Pakistani parliament carried out a lot of legislation and the parliaments of the two countries could learn and exchange experiences with each other. The parliaments of the two countries share a lot of history, values and traditions, he added. The prime minister said he had also visited India as a speaker of the National Assembly and as a tourism minister.
He asked the Lok Sabha speaker to convey his regards to Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
Speaking on the occasion, NA Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza said the parliamentary groups of the two countries should frankly discuss all issues and work for alleviation of poverty and prosperity of the people. “We should divert resources for reduction in poverty and development and welfare of the people,” she added. She said the importance of parliamentary diplomacy had increased and friendship groups of parliaments of the two countries should hold meetings twice a year to increase mutual understanding.
Speaker Indian Lok Sabha Meira Kumar said she had brought a message of good wishes for the people of Pakistan from the people and parliament of India. She said Prime Minister Gilani’s visit to India to watch cricket match in Mohali was a beautiful message of friendship for her country. Kumar said parliaments of Pakistan and India, in which different parties had representation, reflected the will of more than a billion people.
Parliament is the best forum to bring people of India and Pakistan together so that they can live in peace and harmony, she added.
She said the people of India desired a strong friendship with people of Pakistan, adding that, “I will tell people of India that people of Pakistan reciprocate their desire for friendship”.
