ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq Thursday said that Pakistan and Australia enjoyed cordial relations based on common interest and shared perceptions on major international issues.
He was talking to the Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan Margaret Adamson who called on him here.
The Speaker said that Pakistan strongly desired to further diversify its existing relations through people-to-people contacts and parliamentary cooperation between National Assembly and Australian Parliament.
He thanked the Australian government for consistent increase in number of scholarships awarded to Pakistani students.
He urged for cooperation in institutional strengthening and democratic governance in Pakistan and added that Pakistan aspired to benefit from Australian Parliamentary practices regarding the training opportunities in legislative drafting and Research and in committee system specifically the Public Accounts Committee in its exercising oversight functions.
He informed Margaret Adamson that Pakistan was an exciting market for renewable energy production and processed foods.
He remarked that Pakistan offered immense opportunities for Australians in mining, agricultural and livestock expertise.
Margaret congratulated Speaker NA on successfully launching the first ever Solar Panel Power Project in any Parliament in the world and also congratulated for making the parliament first in the world to establish an exclusive Secretariat for Sustainable Development Goals.
Apart from official relations, the people of Pakistan and Australia shared a passion for sports and stood united under the banner of Commonwealth.
She said that Australia would continue to cooperate with Pakistan in educational uplift, democratic governance and sustainable economic development in the region.
She said that Australian government was willing to cooperate with Pakistan in training Parliamentarians and Staff of the Parliament, along with providing assistance in agriculture, mining and livestock sectors.
She also mentioned that Australia was committed to increase educational and vocational linkages for Pakistani students.
Source: APP