22 January 2004	Thursday	29 Ziqa'ad 1424

KARACHI, Jan 21: Former foreign secretary Najamuddin Shaikh has expressed optimism regarding the prospects of peace between India and Pakistan in the wake of the 12th Saarc Summit recently held in Islamabad.

He was speaking as the chief guest at a seminar on "Pakistan- India ties", organized under the auspices of the Press and Publication Committee of Arts Council at its premises on Wednesday evening.

Mr Shaikh lauded the efforts of the Press and Publication Committee for organizing a seminar on this topic. The former secretary was of the view that in the forthcoming composite dialogue between India and Pakistan a step-by-step approach should be adopted. He said that peace was essential as far as the neighbours were concerned.

Dr Hameeda Khuhro, a member of the treasury benches in provincial assembly, said that she was also in favour of better relations between Pakistan and India.Ahfazur Rehman, the president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, said that fostering peace in the region should not be confined to the governments of both countries. He said that people of the two countries should also contribute towards this initiative.

Prof Sikandar Medhi, a former chairman of International Relations Department of Karachi University, said that the improvement of ties between Pakistan and India would benefit the people of the two countries.

Prof Anis Zaidi, a senior educationalist, said "We all are optimistic about the prospects of peace in the region." Talat Hussain, a senior artist, said that the people of Pakistan and India desired good relations between the two countries. -APP