Shahbaz Sharif calls on Afghan President Ashraf Ghani

Islamabad: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif called on President of Afghanistan Muhammad Ashraf Ghani in Islamabad today. Matters of close mutual cooperation and friendly ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan were discussed in the meeting. Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatmi, Provincial Minister for Home Col.(R) Shuja Khanzada and members of delegation accompanied the Afghan President were present in the meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, Shahbaz Sharif said that historic friendly relations exist between Pakistan and Afghanistan and there is a vast scope for increasing mutual trade between both the countries. He stressed the need for taking serious steps for enhancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

The Chief Minister said that strong close relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan are vital to eliminate terrorism and extremism. He said that both the countries will have to solve security problems with mutual close cooperation so that peace should prevail in the region, economic and trade activities should be promoted so that people could benefit from the development in the real sense. He said that there is a great scope to enhance cooperation between Punjab and Kabul in trade, services, education, health and other sectors and effective steps will be taken for this purpose.

Shahbaz Sharif said that due to the visit of Afghan President Muhammad Ashraf Ghani, bilateral cooperation and mutual relations will further expand and both the countries should fully benefit from new opportunities as this is the need of the hour.

President of Afghanistan Muhammad Ashraf Ghani said that he is very much pleased to visit Pakistan. He said that peaceful Afghanistan and Pakistan are useful for stability and development of each other. He said that Lahore and Kabul should be declared twin cities. Afghan President extended invitation to Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif to visit Kabul. While accepting the invitation, Shahbaz Sharif said that he will soon visit Kabul with a trade delegation from Punjab.