Daily Times

ISLAMABAD – Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Thursday said that a comprehensive Pak-US cooperation was inevitable for peaceful and prosperous South Asia. He outlined that Pakistan was committed to an enduring partnership with US for regional stability, improved governance and fight against terrorism and extremism. He was speaking to US Ambassador to Pakistan, David M. Hale who called on him.The Speaker highlighted that Pakistan-US alliance was not confined within the parameters of War against Terrorism rather it was a broad based comprehensive engagement in diverse fields as the convergence of strategic interests had necessitated deeper cooperation and strong partnership. He said that stronger inter-Parliamentary relations, people to people contact and US assistance for strengthening legislative capacity of Pakistan’s Parliament were crucial for fostering an inclusive and robust democracy in Pakistan.  The Speaker highly appreciated US assistance to Pakistan’s civilian institutions for enhancing governance in Pakistan and urged for greater cooperation in science, technology, engineering, agriculture and education.Sardar Ayaz Sadiq informed the Ambassador that Parliament of Pakistan was first in the world to establish a dedicated secretariat for Sustainable Development Goals and also the first ever Parliament to be completely powered by Solar energy.Referring to Pakistan’s services in War on Terror, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq remarked that Pakistan’s struggle in this war was motivated for global peace and security. He informed that last phase of operation Zarb-e- Azb had been launched to defeat, destroy, degrade and dismantle militants’ network in Pakistan.American Ambassador David M. Hale appreciated industriousness and vitality of Pakistani public and added that US was committed to engage with Pakistan to harness its potential to create a brighter economic future for the people of Pakistan. He added that resilient U.S.-Pakistan partnership was vital to regional and global security and reaffirmed US commitment to address evolving challenges in South Asia and beyond. He applauded the role played by Pakistan in war against terrorism and extremism. He said that Pakistan was not alone in fighting against this strange and unprecedented enemy and US shared Pakistan’s concerns and interests in this regard.He reinforced commitment of US for strengthening democratic governance in Pakistan and added that US would continue to partner with Pakistan in enhancing capacity of civilian institutions, parliamentarians and the parliamentary support staff in order to improve parliamentary oversight. He also endorsed strengthening inter-Parliamentary relations and people to people contact between the two countries.