DUSHANBE, June 8, 2011, Asia-Plus — Tajik Ambassador to Pakistan Zubaydullo Zubaydov yesterday met in Islamabad with Dr. Fehmida Mirza, Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan.
According to the Tajik MFA information department, Ambassador Zubaydov delivered a written message from Tajikistan’s Parliament and noted that members of the Parliamentary Group on Pakistan within the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) were going to visit Islamabad.
In the course of the talks, the two also considered issues related to Afghanistan and problems of establishment of peace and accord in that country, the source said.
In the meantime, Associated Press of Pakistan reports Dr. Fehmida Mirza said that Tajikistan and Pakistan were intertwined in bonds of religion, culture and history, therefore, Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Tajikistan. She said that Pakistan strongly desire to enhance its bilateral, economic and parliamentary ties with its brotherly country.
She said that both the countries have huge economic potential which needs to be exploited for mutual benefit. She said that regular interaction between the political hierarchy and trading communities of both the countries would be helpful in exploring avenues of possible cooperation. Dr. Fehmida Mirza said that parliamentarians of both the countries could also play an important role in creating better understanding between both the countries. She invited Tajik Women Members of Parliament to visit Pakistan and interact with their Pakistani counterparts.
Tajikistan Ambassador Zubaydullo Zubaydov said that his government also strongly desires to have congenial relations with Pakistan. He said that Tajik and Pakistani business communities were in regular contact and various agreements have been signed for mutual cooperation. Tajikistan was keen to support Pakistan to meet its energy shortages, Zubaydov added.
Dr. Fehmida Mirza is a medical doctor, agriculturist and businesswoman from Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan who was elected as the first female Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan on March 19, 2008. She is also the first female parliamentary speaker in the Muslim world.
