LAHORE, March 24: A parliamentary delegation from India, led by Rajiya Sabha Deputy Chairman Kassem Rehman Khan, arrived here on Saturday evening to attend the three-day joint Asia and India Regions’ annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference being held in Islamabad from March 26.

Senator Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry received the delegation at the airport.

The conference being hosted by the Senate of Pakistan is being attended by the delegates from the parliaments of India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Pakistan.

The theme of the conference is ‘Knowledge Sharing and Networking of Regional Parliaments’.

“Besides discussing the ways to promote cooperation in information and communication technology, the moot will also review the achievements of the member countries in meeting the ‘Millennium Development Goals’, especially the poverty reduction,” Mr Khan told newsmen on arrival at the Allama Iqbal International Airport.

He hoped that the people to people interaction would prove a confidence building measure to bring peace and prosperity in the South Asian region.

Responding to a question, he said Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had accepted the invitation to visit Pakistan.

Executive Committee of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Chairman Hashim Abdul Halim hoped that the Islamabad moot would help promote better understanding among the member countries.

He said the 53rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference would be held in the Indian capital in September, adding that this would be attended by parliamentarians from all the 53 member states of the Commonwealth.

Mr Halim, who is also the speaker of West Bengal state assembly, hoped that discussions to find out ways to bring down poverty in the region would prove fruitful.

Meanwhile, the Indian delegation will visit historic places in Lahore on Sunday (today) before leaving for Islamabad.—APP