ISLAMABAD, Dec 26: An early settlement of Kashmir issue is crucial for bringing peace and stability to South Asia, which, in turn, is vital for changing the destiny of its poverty stricken masses, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said.

He was talking to Khalid Mehmood, a member of the British parliament, who called on him at the Prime Minister’s House here on Tuesday.

The premier said peace in South Asia would remain elusive without a just settlement of the Kashmir dispute.

According to an official handout issued here, Prime Minister Aziz said Pakistan was trying to promote economic cooperation in the region.

Highlighting multifaceted relationship between Pakistan and the UK, he said ties between the two countries spanned political, diplomatic, economic, defence, security, social and cultural fields.

The prime minister praised the role played by British Pakistanis in promoting Pakistan-UK relations and said the Pakistani expatriates should help improve Pakistan’s image abroad.

He said the upcoming Overseas Investment Conference being held in Pakistan early next year would be of great help to gauge the macro economic stability achieved by Pakistan, and the investment friendly policies of the government providing an opportunity to British Pakistanis to invest in Pakistan.

Mr. Khalid Mehmood praised the government’s reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in the earthquake-hit areas in Azad Kashmir and the NWFP and said British donors would assist in providing vocational training in areas affected by quake.

The British MP disagreed with the statement of Nina Gill, a member of the European Parliament, and termed it immature and said she had no mandate to make such remarks.