ISLAMABAD, Sept 10: An Australian parliamentary delegation will visit Pakistan in two weeks time, said Australian High Commissioner Zorica McCarthy. Speaking at a reception hosted by the high commission for the Australian A cricket team and Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay on Friday evening, Ms McCarthy said the number of Australian visits to Pakistan had increased significantly to foster cooperation in numerous sectors.

The visit of the parliamentary delegation would be the first in many years, she said.

Ms McCarthy said the government and people-to-people contacts between Australia and Pakistan were increasing significantly.

She said President Pervez Musharraf was the first Pakistani head of state to visit Australia and a rapport existed between the two sides that would keep the relationship in good stead. It is reassuring that politicians and bureaucrats were working to strengthen the Pakistan-Australia relations, she said.

Welcoming the Australian A cricket team to Pakistan, the high commissioner said just as the Commonwealth bound the two nations together, so did the love of cricket.

She said an MoU on cricket development was on cards in which Australia would share its experience with high performance programmes.—Staff Reporter