PAKISTAN-UK PARLIAMENTARY FRIENDSHIP GROUP

That this House welcomes the reconstitution of the Pakistan-UK Parliamentary Friendship Group in the National Assembly of Pakistan; commends the Friendship Group on securing over 90 members of the Pakistan National Assembly from across Pakistan's political parties ensuring genuine cross-party representation; notes that the Convener of the Friendship Group, Dr Fahmida Mirza MNA, is a former Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan; further welcomes the wealth of Parliamentary experience that Dr Mirza will bring to the leadership of the Friendship Group; further commends the role of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's UK branch (CPA UK) in facilitating a letter of agreement between the Pakistan National Assembly and the UK Parliament's Pakistan All-Party Parliamentary Group during the last Pakistan parliament; encourages CPA UK and the Pakistan National Assembly to build on the reconstitution of the Friendship Group through continuing with their partnership programme and delegations; further notes that Pakistan and the UK have deep social and cultural ties alongside a growing trade relationship worth over £2 billion; further notes that many British citizens have family and other ties to Pakistan, with around 270,000 visiting Pakistan every year; and therefore encourages the Government to seek to maintain and improve relations between Pakistan and the UK.