RAWALPINDI, April 8: Pakistan and Sweden on Saturday expressed the desire to further boost bilateral cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the field of defence. This was discussed during a meeting between Minister for Defence Production Habibullah Warraich and Sweden’s Secretary of State Lars Danielsson.

Both sides expressed satisfaction over the existing level of cooperation and emphasised the need for greater cooperation between the two countries.

The minister apprised the visiting dignitary about the potential of the defence industry of Pakistan. The meeting discussed the possibility of undertaking a joint venture in the area of defence production.

The minister also informed Mr Danielsson about the defence requirements of Pakistan.

He thanked the Swedish government for extending generous assistance to Pakistan in the wake of the October 8 earthquake.

The meeting was also attended by the Swedish Ambassador to Pakistan Ann Wilkens and senior officials of the ministry of defence production.

On Saturday, Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri urged the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to adopt a non-discriminatory approach towards cooperation with Pakistan in the civilian nuclear field.

The foreign minister shared Pakistan’s perspective on the India-US deal on civil nuclear cooperation with the visiting Swedish official.

According to him, a package approach would promote strategic balance in the area and prevent an arms race in the region. Such an approach would also help to meet the “legitimate energy needs of Pakistan”, he said.

Sweden is a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group which governs the areas of export items and facilitates development of peaceful nuclear trade by providing means whereby obligations to facilitate peaceful nuclear cooperation can be implemented in a manner consistent with international nuclear non-proliferation norms.—APP