Delegation of Indian MPs meets Pak's NA speaker

A three-member Indian delegation of MPs today met Pakistan's National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq who said greater interaction and dialogue between the two sides can play a pivotal role in strengthening ties.
The delegation headed by Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor included Lok Sabha MP Meenakshi Lekhi and Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta.
Sadiq told the Indian MPs that dialogue and interaction between both the countries must be directed towards peace between the two countries as well as in the region, according to a statement by the National Assembly Secretariat.
He urged for regular interaction between parliamentarians of Pakistan and India.

"He stressed for exploring possibilities of joint collaboration between NA (National Assembly) and Lok Sabha in legislative drafting, rules of business and other parliamentary practices," according to the statement.
Apprising the delegation about formation of Parliamentary Friendship Groups in the National Assembly, Sadiq said 90 parliamentary friendship groups are functioning very effectively in the National Assembly of Pakistan and playing role in promoting parliamentary diplomacy and parliamentary relations.

Speaking on the occasion, Tharoor said that parliamentary diplomacy will certainly play an important role in bringing the two nations more closer as they are already tied in common bonds of culture and history.

The Indian delegation is in Pakistan to attend the conference of Asian Parliament Assembly.
The conference, attended by 23 Asian countries and scheduled to conclude on March 17, is being held to discuss closer cooperation and creation of Asian Parliament on the pattern of European Union.