PR. No.101/2008

Date: 24/04/2008

CALL ON THE FOREIGN MINISTER BY CANADIAN MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, MR. WAJID ALI KHAN ON 24 APRIL 2008:

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi received member of Canadian Parliament Mr. Wajid Ali Khan called at the Foreign Office today.

The Foreign Minister welcomed Mr. Khan to Pakistan and underlined Pakistan 's desire for a broad based and long term relationship with Canada . The Foreign Minister stressed the importance of multifaceted cooperation in diverse fields between the two countries. He also affirmed that fighting terrorism and extremism was in Pakistan 's own interest, and that the coalition government had a consensus on adopting a balanced, comprehensive and multi-pronged approach to fight the menace of terrorism.

Mr. Wajid Khan, a Canadian of Pakistani origin, emphasized the importance Canada attaches to its relations with Pakistan and its readiness to support the new government in the socio-economic sectors. He also mentioned the participation of Canadian company Barrick Gold Inc., in a mining project in Balochistan and added that this investment had a great potential and could become a precursor of other such investments in the future.

Islamabad

24 April, 2008