Islamabad: December 9, 2013; Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Speaker National Assembly has said that terrorism, extremism, poverty, illiteracy and economic desolation are the major problems of the Asian countries and we will have to counter these problems united. He expressed these views on the occasion of lunch hosted in honour of delegates participating in the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) at Parliament House Islamabad.

The Speaker said that Pakistan strongly desires to further diversify its existing relations through people-to-people contacts and parliamentary cooperation between National Assembly and the parliaments of the Asian countries. Underlining the need for further enhancing Parliamentary relations, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said that boosting the contacts through Parliamentary Friendship Groups would advance better understanding for achieving common goal of development.

He also stressed the need for enhancing investment and economic cooperation between the Asian countries. The Speaker said that huge economic potential exists in our region which needed to be exploited for mutual benefit. He proposed that interaction between business communities of Asian countries should be encouraged.

Federal Ministers, Ministers of State, Asian Parliamentarians and Foreign Diplomats were also present on the occasion.