Pakistan's Prime Minister Meets King Gyanandra of Nepal
Pakistan Times Staff Report

KATHMANDU (Nepal): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz called on King Gyanandra Bir Bikran Shah here Monday at Narayanhiti Palace.

During the meeting, which lasted for one hour, the Nepalese King expressed appreciation for Pakistan's support and assistance it is providing to his country in various fields.

The King expressing his desire to visit Pakistan in the near future, he appreciated President Pervez Musharraf's statesmanship.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz highlighting importance of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Nepal offered help in different fields including political, economic, civil and defence.

Training facilities to Nepal

Shaukat Aziz said Pakistan is ready to provide military training to Nepal to combat terrorism in the region.

The King briefed Shaukat Aziz about the domestic political situation. The Prime Minister, as Chairman of SAARC, briefed the King about matters relating to organization and efforts to further strengthen and revitalizing it for the overall development of the region.

The two leaders reiterated their desire to enhance the existing trade, economic, political and diplomatic relations for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

The king also appreciated the economic and political cooperation between the two countries, emphasized the need to promote people to people relations.

SAARC Secretary General Calls on Aziz

Secretary General South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Q.A.M.A. Rahim called on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here on Monday and briefed him about the progress on the decisions of the Organization.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz appreciating the efforts of Secretary General SAARC said the members of the organization have been motivated.

Referring to SAFTA, the trade agreement between member states of SAARC, the Prime Minister described it as a historic move, a step in the right direction, adding there was a need to promote it.

The Prime Minister said the private sector needs to interact for promoting trade and bilateral relations between the member countries of the organization. He said joint venture activities need to be promoted and said the scope of SAARC Chamber of Commerce should also be enhanced to promote links between the private sectors.

Shaukat Aziz said SAARC Chamber of Commerce and other organization of the group make it vibrant and functional to achieve desired goals.

Arrives in Nepal

The Pakistani Prime Minister arrived Monday for a two-day visit to Nepal to discuss issues ranging from terrorism to economic cooperation as part of a tour of SAARC nations.

Aziz was accompanied by a 63-member delegation that included ministers and government officials on his visit to the Himalayan Kingdom, which is beset by an increasingly deadly Maoist insurgency.

The Pakistani premier, who holds the rotating chairmanship of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), was due to meet Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba during his visit The leaders would discuss "control of terrorism and bilateral economic cooperation to development of Nepal's vast hydro power," Nepal's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat told media.

Pakistan will endeavor to Revitalize SAARC

Earlier, talking to newsmen at the Chaklala Airbase, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said as the current SAARC Chairman, Pakistan would endeavour to revitalize the grouping.

Aziz said the SAARC is an important organization and a lot of progress is to be made including enhancing political, economic and cultural ties among its member states.

The Entourage

The 14-member delegation accompanying the Prime Minister include Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar, Minister for Industries Jehangir Tireen, Minister for Textiles Industry Mushtaq Ali Cheema, Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister of State for Water and Power Amir Muqam and leading businessmen.

Prime Minister Aziz said this would be an important visit and hoped to bring good results in boosting bilateral and regional cooperation. Responding to a question, the Prime Minister said efforts would be made during the visit to boost economic and trade ties with these countries.●