Omar1984
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ISLAMABAD: There can be no peace in the region until the solution of the Kashmir problem, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Wednesday.
The prime minister said this while talking to Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store, who called on him along with a delegation at the Prime Ministers Secretariat. Gilani said solution of the Kashmir problem would enable Pakistan to single-mindedly focus on the war against terrorism. He said Pakistan desired cordial relations with all its neighbours and peace and security in Pakistan was linked to the situation in Afghanistan. The prime minister urged Norway to play an active role in the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FODP) forum to help Pakistan undertake reconstruction and development of the areas cleared from terrorists in FATA and NWFP and appreciated Norwegian assistance in establishment of 350 community schools in FATA. Gilani said Pakistan considers Norway as its special friend and desires excellent bilateral relations with it. He said both the countries should expand their relations in the sectors of trade and economic cooperation and stressed on the need for increasing the people to people contact between the two friendly countries. The prime minister welcomed the decision of Norwegian company Telenor to invest $2 billion in Pakistan in the next five years.
Gilani expressed his desire that Norwegian companies should also invest in oil and gas, petroleum, chemicals, pharmaceutical, fertilizers and iron and steel manufacturing sectors of the Pakistan economy.
The Norwegian foreign minister said that it was his third visit to the country and he was pleased to meet the prime minister. Store assured Gilani of his countrys full support for strengthening democracy in Pakistan and Norway would play its role to increase the aid, which Pakistan receives through the FODP.
Separately, the prime minister attended the meeting of the 92nd National Management Course. The prime minister, addressing the participants, said the government has made policies to tackle the problems of poverty and unemployment. He appreciated the fact that all macro economic indicators of the country were improving, which were a proof of the good economic policies of the government. Gilani said every institution should function under its jurisdiction and serve the masses with hard work and devotion. app