Pakistan and the European Union (EU) share longstanding credible bilateral relations built on trust, understanding and mutual benefit.

National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf expressed these views while meeting with the Members of European Parliament (MEPs) Hervé Juvin and Virginie Joron in the Parliament House, Islamabad, according to a press release received by WealthPK.

The speaker stressed the need to further cement the relations between the two entities and to increase the interaction on parliamentary levels. He said that Pakistan is a peace-loving country and invited people of Europe to travel to Pakistan to see its natural beauty. He said, a concerted effort is needed to rebuild Pakistan’s image in the west and Pakistan seeks the EU’s help in this endeavour.

Talking about the unprecedented floods in Pakistan, he said, “the country has suffered a loss of hundreds of lives, destruction of infrastructure and livestock, and is witnessing a livelihood crisis in the flood-affected areas.”

He appreciated the EU and its member states for their immense support and humanitarian assistance for relief and rehabilitation efforts for the flood affected people in Pakistan.

MEP Virginie said, “we have visited Pakistan from Gwadar to Kashmir and all we have seen is beauty and peace-loving people who are so welcoming and hospitable.”

She continued by saying that, “my views about Pakistan have been radically changed during my week spent here. I will do my best to raise my voice in favor of Pakistan in Western parliaments.”

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk