ISLAMABAD, July 21: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday said Pakistan had a functioning parliament, a vibrant opposition and a free press, reflecting a democratic polity. He was talking to a parliamentary delegation of Malaysia led by the Speaker of the House of the Representatives Tan Sri Dato Seri Di Raja Ramli bin Ngah Talib, who called on him at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat here on Thursday.

The prime minister said Pakistan and Malaysia enjoyed close cordial, brotherly and historic relations and the people of Pakistan held Malaysia in high esteem as a symbol of success in the Muslim world.

He said Pakistan’s economy was on the rise due to the reforms carried out by the government. “We have had a growth which was broad-based and the middle class was expanding. There are no restrictions on doing business in Pakistan,” he said.

Mr Aziz said that both Malaysia and Pakistan being members of the Muslim Ummah had to do a lot to project a true image of Islam at the international level.

He said the economic reforms carried out by his government were based on liberalisation, deregulation and privatization. History will record that the reforms carried out by the government were the most successful in the history of developing countries, he remarked.

The speaker of the Malaysian Parliament thanked the government and the people of Pakistan for extending hospitality to his delegation. He also expressed his grief over the death of innocent people in the tragic accident in Ghotki.

Ch. Amir Hussain, the speaker of the National Assembly, was also present on the occasion.