People look up to the parliament to solve their problems, National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza said to a delegation of the defence select committee of the House of Commons, visiting Pakistan currently. The eight-member delegation is led by British MP James Arbuthnot called on Dr Fehmida Mirza, on Monday.
Dr Fehmida referred the relations between Pakistan and Britain which have been nurtured over the years, and the result of that continued interaction seen in the common perceptions of both countries on many regional and global issues.
She said Pakistan yearning for peace and stability since stability to which the people of the region looked forward to benefit from development and prosperity, which such conditions would promote. She also referred that countries looking healthy relations with neighbours which should have channels of open communication, and in exchange of Parliamentary delegations regularly.
Pakistan was fully determined to fight extremism, and terrorism, Speaker, adding that extremism and terrorism should be eliminated through attending to root causes that promote these two menaces. As for example, we should provide more economic opportunities in the Fata to eliminate extremism in this area and such opportunities can play a vital role to improve the miserable life of women, she said.
Fehmida added that Parliament is facing many problems, which would be overcome with the help of the masses and support of friendly countries. Our people were pinning great hope from the newly elected Parliament and were hoping that the Parliament will come up to their expectation.
Speaker thanked the British delegation for Britain's support to democracy and the new democratic set up in Pakistan, as well for their support to Pakistan's re-admission in the Commonwealth. In his turn, the head of delegation, appreciated Pakistan's important role in the war against terrorism and extremism, and that Pakistan was also a stabilising factor for regional progress and prosperity.
James Arbhutnot praised the Pakistani community in UK and said they are playing an important role in Britain's economic development, and said they were law abiding citizens. The delegation invited the Speaker to visit the UK. Speaker accepted the invitation.