ISLAMABAD, Jan 8: Canadian House of Commons Speaker Peter Milliken arrived at Karachi on Saturday evening on a four-day visit to Pakistan. This was announced by the Canadian High Commission here on Saturday.

The Canadian speaker is the guest of National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain.Mr Milliken is accompanied by a delegation of Canadian parliamentarians. The delegation includes Jean Augustine, P.C.; M.P Gurmant Grewal; M.P Wajid Khan; and M.P Sebastien Gagnon.

Mr Milliken and the accompanying delegation will spend two days in Islamabad, meeting with parliamentary counterparts and other leaders including President Gen Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri.

The delegation will also travel to Lahore to meet with political, business and civil society leaders there. Canadian High Commissioner Margaret Huber has said the visit reflects the strengthening of Canada's longstanding and ever- improving relations with Pakistan.

The delegation is here to learn about Pakistan's pursuit of policies of enlightened moderation, and to exchange views with a fellow member of the Commonwealth on best parliamentary practices.

The high commissioner said the fact that the parliamentary delegation included two members of parliament of South Asian origin reflected the strengthening of ties between Canada and the region.