‘Parliamentary cooperation to bring Pakistan, Niger closer’

Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser has stressed the need for strengthening broad based bilateral parliamentary and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Niger to tap immense economic potential in either side.

He was speaking in a meeting with President of National Assembly of Niger Seini Oumarou in Parliament House on Friday. Oumarou is on a visit to Pakistan, along with a parliamentary delegation.

The speaker said that parliamentary cooperation would prove instrumental in bringing both the countries closer. He added Pakistan believed in the collective pursuit of sustainable development in an environment of peace and stability for all. He added that Pakistan’s policy shift from geopolitics to geo-economics centres around connectivity, development partnerships, socioeconomic uplift and peace within and beyond Pakistan’s borders. Pakistan believes that the Palestine and Kashmir issues were at the heart of turmoil and conflicts in the world and the region, he added.

Pakistan believes in just solution for Palestine and Kashmir disputes under the resolution of the UNSC which is imperative for the maintenance of regional and global peace and security, he said, adding that Niger being one of the active members of OIC should actively raise the issues of Palestine and Kashmir at OIC level.

The speaker appreciated the support Niger had always extended to Pakistan at international parliamentary forums. He also acknowledged the outright support of Niger on Kashmir in meeting of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting held in Niamey.

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Parliamentary level engagement is an important component of people to people exchanges which could play a critical role for strengthening bilateral relations, said the speaker. He added that the agreed protocol being signed between National Assemblies of Pakistan and Niger would further bring both the countries closer.

The speaker said that immense economic activity had been generated in Pakistan with CPEC. He proposed that Nigerien investors could take benefit of the geo-economic package for investors under the umbrella of CPEC. He underlined the need for intensifying cooperation for tapping the potential for mutual benefit through interaction between business communities from both counties.

Apprising his Nigerien Counterpart about Pakistan’s initiative of Engage Africa, he said that Pakistan envisions engaging friendly countries in African continent for exploring avenues of cooperation. He said that a contact group in Africa has been established to augment relations with African countries through parliamentary diplomacy. He said that your visit would prove to be a stepping stone for future parliamentary engagement.

President National Assembly of Niger Oumarou said that political leadership and people of his country value their association with Pakistan. Strong desire exists to augment bilateral relation and cooperation, therefore tangible steps have been initiated. “Niger would extend diplomatic support to Pakistan at all multilateral foras,” he said and agreed for intensifying parliamentary engagement through level of friendship groups.

Later, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between National Assembly of Pakistan and National Assembly of Niger. The MoU would strengthen cooperation between both the legislatures.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2021.