ISLAMABAD: Speaker National Assembly, Ayaz Sadiq said that Pakistan does not want to be a part of arms race in South Asia but cannot become unaware of the threats to its national security on Tuesday. He was addressing at the inaugural session of two-day Standing Committee Meeting of Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) on `Economic and Sustainable Development kicked off here at a local hotel. Speaker NA said “Pakistan is a responsible Atomic country and its Atomic assets are in safe hands. The country strictly follows the policy of atomic non-proliferation”. Speaker NA also urged the nuclear supplier groups to stop discriminatory attitude with the other countries. He said, “Pakistan is facing the challenge of terrorism from the last two decades and has sacrificed 65,000 lives in war on terror”. The country, he added, has achieved enormous success in his fight against terrorism through military operation Zarb-i-Azb. “Pakistani government and the nation are committed to root out the menaces of terrorism and sectarianism from the country”, he said. He said peaceful Asia will remain a dream unless ensuring peace in occupied Kashmir, Palestine and Rohingya. Ayaz Sadiq said strong democracy and economy can only help country fight the menaces of terrorism and sectarianism. He said Asian countries are faced with the challenges related to health, education, poverty, economy, energy, water and human rights and the role of APA is vital to cope with such challenges. Speaker NA said exchange of parliamentary delegations must be a regular activity for enhancing people to people relations. He also emphasized on the need to give facilities to the traders for promoting business activity in the Asian region and taking steps for ensuring economic equality. Addressing on the occasion, Chairman Senate, Mian Raza Rabbani said the success of APA meeting would help achieve targets of development in Asian countries. The resolutions of APA reflecting Asian vision will hopefully prove as helpful for poverty eradication from the Asian countries. Raza Rabbani said Western economy in this era is on decline while Arabian countries are also facing the threat of destabilization. “Asian countries are in effort to bring economic stability and peace which can only be achieved through unity”, he said. “What I believe is that the future of Asia lies within Asia and we have to stop depending on West”, he opined. The sufferings and dreams of Asian countries are collective and interlinked, “Asian dream is sinking and swimming together so we have to become strength of each other”, he said. Condemning the human rights violation in occupied Kashmir and Palestine, he said “champions of human rights must not remain silent over the human rights violation in the world especially in Azad Jammu Kashmir and Palestine”. He said “it is a matter for privilege for Pakistan to host the APA meeting”. He congratulated Cambodia for assuming the presidentship of APA and hoped that Cambodia would play its active role in achieving APA targets. Deputy Secretary General APA on Economic and Sustainable Development, Ali Khorram briefed the participants of the objectives of this important forum. APA Secretary General gave presentation on implementation of resolutions on `Financial Affairs: Ensuring Efforts for Economic Growth’, the role of APA Parliaments to adopt Legislation in Supporting Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and Asian Integrated Energy Market on the first day. While on the second day, presentation and discussions will be held on Environmental Issues, poverty Eradication, Education for All and Women Empowerment.