SEOUL, Sept 30: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has invited South Korean president and prime minister to visit Pakistan for strengthening economic and political ties between the two countries.

The invitation was extended during the prime minister’s meetings with the Korean leaders.

Mr Aziz told newsmen aboard his special plane on his way to Malaysia that the date and schedule of the visits would be decided by the two foreign offices.

He said Pakistan and South Korea agreed that there should be no increase in the number of permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, although they both favoured UN reforms.

The issue came under discussion during a meeting between Prime Minister Aziz and South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun here on Friday.

The South Korean president hailed and encouraged the ongoing peace process between Pakistan and India, said the prime minister.

Mr Moo-Hyun appreciated Pakistan’s role in global war against terrorism and its contribution to the development of war-ravaged Afghanistan.

Mr Aziz informed the South Korean president that Pakistan would not compete any country in arms race. Instead, he added, it would use its maximum resources for providing health, education and other facilities to people.

However, he said, Pakistan would maintain a minimum deterrent to ensure strategic balance in the region.

Mr Moo-Hyun told the prime minister that the whole world appreciated Pakistan’s role for peace, security and stability in the region.

He seconded Mr Aziz’s stand that terrorism had no links with Islam, as it (terrorism) had no religion or geography.

Online adds: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that Pakistan is a peaceful country but it will pay back in the same coin in case of any aggression against it.

“We neither want tension nor war with any country. However, we will safeguard our honour and dignity at any cost,” said Mr Aziz while addressing the members of Pakistani community in South Korea here on Friday.

Pakistan Muslim League President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Minister of State for Labour and Overseas Pakistanis Senator Tariq Azim were present on the occasion.

The prime minister said that the government would exploit every resource to further strengthen capabilities of the army.

He said that the recently held local body polls were free, fair and transparent but admitted that there was some criticism in the Commonwealth’s report on the polls, adding that ‘from it we will learn.’

He said that the country’s economy had been put on right track by the government as it had said ‘good bye’ to the IMF. “Now, our focus is on education, infrastructure and law and order,” he added.