Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Jaganath Patnaik has said people of both India and Pakistan should take concrete steps for ensuring lasting peace in the sub-continent.
While addressing the members of Punjab Bar Council at a reception held in the honour of members from BCI delegation here on Tuesday, Jaganath said culture and traditions in both the countries were common and efforts must be made for improving education and health facilities, apart from poverty alleviation.
'Time has come to wage joint efforts to resolve problems being faced by the people of two countries', he said.
'We will soon form joint bodies of lawyers for a greater cause', he said. Lahore High Court Bar Association President Fakharunnisa Khokhar said the people of both the countries should work for peace and justice.
Vice-Chairman Punjab Bar Council Asghar Ali Gill said the people of both the countries should force their governments to curtail their defence expenditures. He said without curtailing the defence budget, disputes between the two countries could not be resolved.
Earlier, delegation members met the Advocate General Punjab and other senior law officers in the city.