TASHKENT – Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani urging greater inter-parliamentary interaction between Pakistan and Uzbekistan. Said stronger “bilateral ties would benefit both countries’ peoples.”
Talking to Dilarom Tashmukhamedova, Speaker of the Legislative chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Uzbekistan – the parliament’s lower house, at the Parliament building here, Gilani urged exchange of parliamentary delegations between the two countries.
Gilani who is here on a two-day visit to the Uzbek Republic said the geographic proximity between the two countries can be used for the mutual benefit of their peoples through sharing of experiences and increased interaction at all levels.
Prime Minister Gilani was also briefed about the working of Uzbekistan’s bicameral parliament and also met chairpersons of various chamber committees.
He said his government was pursuing the policy of reconciliation that had made coalition government a success.
He informed the Uzbek Speaker about many similarities between the two parliaments. He apprised her, the Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly was also a woman who was ably handling the parliamentary proceedings and the legislative business.
Gilani shared the recent legislative successes of the Pakistani parliament and how it managed to unanimously restore the Constitution from the changes made under dictatorial regimes. He spoke about the balance of power amongst the state institutions which he said was vital for good governance.
He also informed how the government and the opposition benches work together for the passage of the legislative business. He hoped that the new changes in the Uzbek parliament would make it more sovereign.
Gilani mentioned the menace of terrorism which was negatively impacting the foreign investment. He said the nation was united to defeat terrorism and added that economy was heading in right direction due to the government’s difficult decisions.
Speaker Dilarom Tashmukhamedova congratulated the Prime Minister on the successful completion of three years of the government and his policy and vision of reconciliation and for taking along all political parties on issues of national importance.
She noted that Pakistan was playing a key role in the region with its strong democratic system. She informed the Prime Minister in detail the new changes in Uzbek parliament to make it more sovereign.
Both sides agreed that parliamentary interaction can prove useful in strengthening the two countries’ relations.
