July 22, 2005	Friday	Jumadi-us-Sani 14, 1426

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ISLAMABAD, July 21: National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain has said the government is making efforts to curb extremism in the country besides extending help to the international community in its fight against terrorism. He said this while talking to Japanese Ambassador Nobuaki Tanaka who called on the speaker at the Parliament House on Thursday.

Mr Hussain apprised the envoy of the economic progress and the strengthening of democratic institutions in the country. He said local bodies institutions had empowered people at the grass- roots level and ensured their participation in the governing process.

The forthcoming local bodies elections would further strengthen democratic institutions in the country, the speaker said.

He said Pakistan and Japan shared their perceptions on global issues and had a common desire for peace and stability in the world.

He also appreciated the Japanese government’s assistance for Pakistan in the field of socio-economic development.

Mr Tanaka appreciated the smooth working of democratic institutions in Pakistan and its economic achievements in the past six years. He said the Japanese embassy would hold an exhibition in August to commemorate Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing.

Our reporter from Pindi adds: National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain said frequent visits of parliamentarians and high-level contacts between leaders of Malaysia and Pakistan were bound to strengthen political, diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries.

The speaker said this while talking to an 11-member parliamentary delegation from Malaysia, headed by Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malaysia Tan Sri Dato Seri Diraja Ramali Bin Ngah Talib, who called on him in his chamber at the Parliament House on Thursday.

Mr Hussain said Pakistan and Malaysia were bound together by centuries-old ties of history, culture and religion and their relations were bound to grow from strength to strength in the days to come.

The visit of the parliamentary delegation would help expand relations between the two countries, he added.

The National Assembly speaker said Pakistan was the first country to recognize Malaysia’s independence and Justice Abdul Hamid of Pakistan played a pivotal role in drafting the Malaysian constitution.

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