ISLAMABAD, Nov 4: Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza has called upon the friendly countries to support Pakistan in resolving various problems the new democratic government is facing.

Talking to French parliamentarians Jean Glavany and Henri Plagnol who met with her at the Parliament House on Tuesday, the speaker said Pakistan attached great importance to its relations with France and expressed her optimism for its support, especially in the Group of Friends of Pakistan.

A statement issued here said, she stressed for enhancing people-to-people contact and diversifying the existing economic cooperation, especially to overcome the energy crisis, between the two countries.

Dr Mirza said Pakistan was committed to peace and stability in the region and elimination of extremism and terrorism, adding that these problems could only be eliminated by addressing its root causes.

She said asked for the support of the international community to uproot this menace from the country.

The speaker apprised the MPs of the functioning of the parliament and NA standing committees where, she said, women had substantial representation.

Dr Mirza said she was working on formation of a women caucus in the parliament and very soon a steering committee comprising of only women parliamentarians in the National Assembly will be constituted.

She said this caucus would be a national forum where the lady parliamentarians would be working above the party lines for the betterment and well being of Pakistani women.

The speaker said the caucus would also be extended to the provincial legislatures. She also apprised the delegation of the Speaker’s Relief Fund established for the support of the internally displaced people of Fata in which parliamentarians and general public have generously contributed.

The French parliamentarians acknowledged the concerns of the speaker and said France would extend its all-out support to Pakistan in addressing extremism and terrorism.

They said their visit to Pakistan had provided them an opportunity to remove negative perception about it. They said France attached importance to its relations with Pakistan and would extend maximum diplomatic and economic support in diverse fields. They appreciated the speaker’s efforts for protection of women rights, gender mainstreaming and gender budgeting.

The French MPs also presented an invitation to the speaker on behalf of Speaker French National Assembly to visit France.