Pakistani Govt. Committed to Constructive, Sustained Ties with India: PM Gilani

ISLAMABAD (NNN-Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said that the Pakistani government is committed to a constructive, sustained and result-oriented process of engagement with India, local media reported on Thursday.

According to a report by local paper The News, the Prime Minister addressed a delegation of Indian Parliamentarians at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad on Wednesday. The delegation is currently on a tour in Pakistan to exchange views with their Pakistani counterparts.

In his address, the Prime Minister said that peace and stability in the region are essential factors for socio-economic development of people of both countries.

He said that peace can only be achieved by developing understanding and parliamentarians can play a key role in facilitating the dialogue process and conflict resolution in a just and fair manner.

The Prime Minister said the Pakistani government fully supports parliamentary exchanges and he believed that enhancing people-to- people contact at diverse tiers is key to deepen engagement between both countries.

"We appreciate the contribution of civil society of both countries towards promoting the ideas of peace, harmony and friendship between Pakistan and India," he said.

Later talking to media, the Indian Parliamentarians termed Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani as a man of peace and expressed their gratitude for receiving hospitality from the PM.

They said that they observed complete transformation in Pakistan in terms of friendly and hospitable environment as compared to their last visit in January 2011.

The Indian Parliamentarians said that there is a vast potential for trade between both countries that could touch the figure of 15 billion U.S. dollars instead of the current 2 billion.

Pakistani and Indian Parliamentarians also handed over the joint Parliamentary resolution to the Prime Minister on the occasion. -- NNN-XINHUA