Pakistan-Lanka FTA hailed

COLOMBO: Pakistan is pleased with the program of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka FTA that got underway in June 2005, High Commissioner of Pakistan to Sri Lanka Shahzad A. Chaudhry said.

He was speaking at a ceremony to mark Pakistan’s National Day at the Pakistan High Commission yesterday.

Chaudhry hoisted Pakistan’s National Flag at the ceremony.

The High Commissioner said Pakistan’s relations with Sri Lanka have remained cordial and cooperative throughout “Regionally, our bilateral relations should serve as an example to a more homogenous and integrated future for all peoples of South Asia, manifest in the cover-arching umbrella under SAARC.

Expeditious visa facilitation, and an in-principle decision to open Lahore as a destination to Sri Lankan Airlines will help enable frequent travel and interaction amongst our trading communities. Pakistan will stand with Sri Lanka and rest of the international community to help forge an environment of negotiation and political movement towards the cherished goal for a lasting peace,” Chaudhry said.

Chaudhry said the ceremony was an occasion to renew “our commitment to the vision and ideals for which Pakistan was created.”

The leadership provided to Pakistan in the recent years by President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has been the key to a stable, consistent and laudable performance in all facets of our national and international obligations.

Pakistan today stands as a bulwark and a front-line state in the global war on terrorism. Together with all peace-loving nations of the world. Pakistan has made very major contributions in countering this most menacing challenge of modern times, he said.

In a message to the people of Pakistan, General Musharraf said; ‘From 1940, our nation has come a long way, having attained independence on August 14, 1947 against seemingly insurmountable odds, our country has been confronted with many challenges.

It most certainly goes to the credit of the Pakistani nation that we have always risen to the occasion and successfully overcome adversity by demonstrating patriotism, steadfastness, resilience and unswerving faith in Almighty Allah.”

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in his message said; “Our ideological strength lies in our firm adherence to Islam and our progress and prosperity depend on the cherished principles of unity, faith and discipline.

Therefore, let us renew our covenant today to make Pakistan a developed, enlightened, forward looking, progressive and modern Islamic welfare state.” Members of the High Commission, Sri Lankans and the Pakistani community in Sri Lanka attended the ceremony.