Islamabad:  November 03, 2017:  Deputy Speaker National Assembly Murtaza Javed Abbasi has expressed desire to further strengthen warm relations between Pakistan and South Africa through enhancing Parliamentary and economic contacts. He said that the relations between the two countries increasing steadily. He expressed these views while talking to Ms. Lynne Brown, Minister of Public Enterprises, Republic of South Africa who called on him at Parliament House on Friday.    Federal Minister for Commerce & Textile Muhammad Pervaiz Malik,  Minister of State for CAAD, Tariq Fazal Ch.,  Minister of State for Maritime Affairs, Ch. Jaffar Iqbad and the High Commissioner of South Africa in Pakistan were also present on the occasion.

The Deputy Speaker said that Pakistan values high its relations with South Africa which based on friendship and mutual trust.  He stressed the need for regular interaction between parliamentarians of both the countries.  He said that the Parliamentarians could play a pivotal role for strengthening of existing bilateral relations.      He invited South African investors to take benefit from pro-investment policies introduced by the incumbent government in diverse fields.  He said that the volume of trade between Pakistan and South Africa is relatively low and unexplored,  however, there is a great potential for its further expansion.  He expressed the need for strengthening the cooperation between both the countries in diverse fields.

Murtaza Javed Abbasi said that Pakistan is combating against the menace of terrorism and extremism that resulted in restoration of confidence of foreign and national investors to invest in Pakistan.  Highlighting the landmark CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) project he said that CPEC would prove to be a game-changer in generating regional economic and commercial activities.  He asked the visiting Minister to play her due role in persuading her country’s business community to look for investment opportunities in Pakistan.

Ms. Lynne Brown, Minister of Public Enterprises, Republic of South Africa thanked the Deputy Speaker for his remarks and said that her country also values high its relations with Pakistan. She agreed that interaction between the parliamentarians of both the countries could play an important role to bring both the nation closer. She appreciated the resilience shown by the people of Pakistan in war against terrorism and assured all out support of her country in this regard.  She thanked the Government and people of Pakistan for hospitality extended during her visit to Pakistan.   Later on the Deputy Speaker hosted a luncheon in honour of visiting Minister and her delegation.