Pakistan values ties with Iran: NA Speaker
By Bushra Makhdoom

ISLAMABAD—Iranian Ambassador Mashallah Shakri Friday called on the Speaker National Assembly Dr. Fehmida Mirza in the parliament House.
Talking to the ambassador the Speaker said that Pakistan values high its relations with the Iran and both the countries have unanimity of views on all regional as and global issues.
The Speaker said that relations between the two fraternal countries were based on the strong bonds of religion, history and common cultural heritage.
Dr. Fehmida Mirza said that the Muslim world was confronting great challenges which could be faced successfully through forging unity amongst the Muslim countries.
She underlined the need for strengthening and enhanced role of the OIC, adding that greater exchange of Parliamentary delegations was necessary to further strengthening relations between Iran and Pakistan.
She also stressed the need for enhanced exchange businessmen, intellectuals and students delegations for increasing people to people contact.
She said that it was encouraging that both the countries were aspiring for other prosper and progress.
The Speaker said that energy shortage was the main problem confronting the new government and expressed optimism that the mega gas pipelines project between Pakistan, Iran and India will bring prosperity in the region.
She also underlined the need for early convening of the meeting of the Ministerial Joint Economic Committee for increasing the volume of the trade between the two countries.
The Ambassador of Iran Mashallah Shakri said that enhanced cooperation between Iran and Pakistan will have greater impact on unity and solidarity of Islamic world.
He said that Pakistan was a brotherly muslim country and Iran has always supported it on all regional and international forms. “Pakistan’s strength was Iran’s strength”, he said.
The Ambassador congratulated the Speaker on the election as the first women speaker of Pakistan and Islamic world and extended her invitation to visit Iran.