ISLAMABAD, Dec 6: Norway has offered technical help in construction of the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline and financial support for education in areas affected by the October earthquake. Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg told journalists after meeting Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Tuesday: “Your country is negotiating on a gas project with Iran and we can help construct the proposed pipeline whenever the deal is made, as we are expert in construction of such pipelines.”

Earlier, both sides signed an agreement on the establishment of a Norwegian-Pakistani advisory board on matters relating to marriage, family and children, arising out of migration.

They also signed a memorandum of understanding on cultural cooperation.

Prime Minister Aziz termed the Norwegian donation of $78 million for victims of the October earthquake the largest with respect to per capita income.

Responding to a question, the Norwegian prime minister said his country would provide financial support for rehabilitation of education system in the affected areas through the United Nations and non-government organizations like the Red Crescent.

Prime Minister Aziz said Pakistan had opened its doors to foreign investment and Norway was a potential investor, particularly in the energy and telecommunication sectors, as its cellular company Telenor had established a successful business in the country.

Mr Stoltenberg said he had discussed with Mr Aziz all regional and international issues and had decided to promote their close relations in various sectors.

The Norwegian premier appreciated the economic growth that Pakistan had attained over the years through implementation of financial discipline and economic reforms.

Mr Aziz informed his Norwegian counterpart about the process of dialogue that Pakistan and India had initiated over the past few years and emphasised the need for a negotiated settlement of the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

Responding to a question, the Norwegian PM said: “We don’t have fixed ideas about what mechanism both countries would undertake to resolve their problems but we do appreciate the ongoing atmosphere of understanding existing between them.”

In reply to a question, he said he had discussed with Prime Minister Aziz the issue of forced marriages and he hoped that the matter would be amicably resolved through the mechanism proposed under the agreement signed in this regard.

Prime Minister Aziz said: “We do not believe in forced marriages, although we have an arranged marriage system which was successful due to low divorce rate.”

The protocol signed would help to settle such disputes and all Pakistanis going out of the country would get enough counselling, he said.

Speaking earlier, Prime Minister Shaukiat Aziz said the government had taken adequate steps to check, monitor and bring transparency in the disbursement of quake-related funds.