National News

ISLAMABAD,(APP): Speaker National Assembly, Ayaz Sadiq
on Tuesday said “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.
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 is 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.