Turkmenistan urged to use Gwadar Port

Zardari signs law raising Christian marriage age to 18

ISLAMABAD:

President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday called for expanding bilateral ties with Turkmenistan across all areas of mutual interest, urging the country to benefit from Gwadar port for promoting the regional trade.

The president expressed these views while talking to the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov, who called on him at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

President said that Pakistan-Turkmenistan relations were based on a common vision for peace and prosperity in the region. The exchange of high-level visits between the two countries signified the mutual desire to further strengthen bilateral understanding and cooperation.

Welcoming the minister, the president urged the need to enhance connectivity and communication between Pakistan and Turkmenistan, saying that Gwadar port offered great opportunities for promoting regional trade and Turkmenistan should benefit from the port.

He stressed the need for continued exchanges and dialogue at all levels and enhanced trade, economic, investment and cultural relations for the prosperity of the two countries.

He offered that Turkmen students could seek education from the medical institutions of Pakistan and noted the importance of the Third Round of Bilateral Political Consultations held today by the two Foreign Ministers.

Meredov maintained that Pakistan and Turkmenistan enjoyed cordial relations. He stated that his country would continue to promote economic, cultural and educational cooperation with Pakistan.

He highlighted the importance of constructing motorways and railways, through Afghanistan, to connect the two brotherly countries.

He conveyed the greetings of the leadership of Turkmenistan to the President.

Separately, President Zardari signed Christian Marriage (Amendment) Act into law, increasing the marriageable age for Christian men and women to eighteen years.

According to a statement issued by President Secretariat, the president accorded assent to the act under Article 75 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The Act amends Section 60 of the Christian Marriage Act of 1872.

Prior to the amendments, the age of Christian men and women intending to be married was required to exceed sixteen and thirteen years respectively.

Addressing a ceremony after signing the act at the Aiwan-i-Sadr, he said that he would write to the federal government to enhance the jobs quota in different departments for the minorities.

Zardari said that all the citizens of the country had equal rights and urged the minorities to continue playing their role for the progress and prosperity of the country as this soil and land belonged to them as much as to him.

Speaking on the occasion, Bishop Abraham Daniel said that raising the age of marriage for men and women had been a long-standing demand of the Christian community.