Firdous leaves for Norway to receive award on behalf of PM
ISLAMABAD, Sept 6 (APP): Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Tuesday left for a three-day official visit to Norway where she will receive an award on behalf of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani.The Bridge Builder Award 2011 has been conferred on the Prime Minister for his efforts to improve Pakistan’s relations with western countries.
The award is given annually to individuals who make valuable contributions in building bridges between people, religions and cultures. The 2009 award was conferred on US President Barack Obama while actress and UN goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie was recipient of last year’s award.
 During her visit, Dr Firdous will attend official meetings with Jonas Gahr, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Norway, Erna Solberg,opposition leader of Norwegian Parliament and Per Kristian Foss, Vice President of Norwegian Parliament.
She is also expected to meet with a high level business delegation of the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) in order to promote mutual investment among the two countries. She will meet with Jon Fedrik Baksaas,President and Chief Executive Officer of Telenor Group to discuss the group’s future investment plans in Pakistan.
 The Information Minister will also visit the Norwegian Island of Utoya,the site of gun attack which claimed the lives of 69 people on July 22.
 She will offer condolences on behalf of the President, the Prime Minister and the people of Pakistan over the massacre and will express her sympathies with the families and friends of those who lost their precious lives in the gory incident.She will also visit the Embassy of Pakistan and meet with community leaders.
On the occasion of her departure, Dr Firdous said that Pakistan attached special importance to its relations with Norway and desired to enhance trade ties with it. She stressed the need for enhancing people-to-people contacts and exchange of parliamentary delegations between the two countries to expand bilateral relations.
The visit of the Information Minister will be a milestone in furthering the relationship in multi-faceted dimensions between Pakistan and Norway.