Awaz Apni ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Saturday expressed his deep concern over the unbridled atrocities of Israel against Palestinian in Gaza despite international calls for restraint and said Pakistan strongly condemns the Israeli aggression.Talking to special envoy of the Iranian President Gholamhossein Nowzari, Minister for Petroleum who called on him at the PM House, the Prime Minister said Pakistan has consistently and unequivocally offered unreserved support to the Palestinian cause and supports the establishment of an independent state of Palestine with Al-Quds Sharif as its capital.He said Pakistan has always stood by their Palestinian brothers and was desirous of seeing complete unity among their ranks.He said world needs to give up its double standards by ignoring Israeli atrocities and act resolutely to stop its aggression against the innocent Palestinian in Gaza.The Prime Minister hoped that the meeting of the Executive Committee of OIC in Jeddah would come up with a constructive and consensus decision in line with the sentiments of the Muslim world.On Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations, the Prime Minister lauded the Iranian President's efforts for defusing tension between India and Pakistan in the wake of Mumbai blasts.He expressed satisfaction that the two brotherly countries had made progress on the prospects of signing the gas pipeline and supply of electricity from Iran to Pakistan agreements.He requested Iran to extend the deferred payment of oil facility to Pakistan for one year rather than 90 days. He also hoped that Iran would set up the power plants in Pakistan to help it overcome the severe electricity shortage in the country.The Iranian Minister for Petroleum said Pakistan was a very important Islamic country and hence should assume a leading role in OIC for the resolution of the present Gaza crisis.He said Iran was mustering support of the Muslim world in this regard and needed Pakistan's assistance for taking a united stance of the Muslim Ummah on the Palestinian issue.Underscoring the critical situation in Gaza, the Iranian Minister said that role of Muslim countries at this juncture would be recorded by the history. “They should therefore forget their petty differences for countering the Israeli aggression.”Iranian Minister termed Pakistan as his second home and stated that he considered Pakistan's difficulties as Iran's and Pakistan's progress as Iran's progress.He agreed with the Prime Minister that there is an urgent need for finalization of gas pipeline project between the two countries.He promised to convey Pakistan's request for extension in the period of deferred payment of oil facility to the Iranian government.He also agreed with the Prime Minister that bilateral trade between the two countries needed to be enhanced and urged both sides to make concerted efforts to achieve that goal.
Awaz Apni ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Saturday expressed his deep concern over the unbridled atrocities of Israel against Palestinian in Gaza despite international calls for restraint and said Pakistan strongly condemns the Israeli aggression.Talking to special envoy of the Iranian President Gholamhossein Nowzari, Minister for Petroleum who called on him at the PM House, the Prime Minister said Pakistan has consistently and unequivocally offered unreserved support to the Palestinian cause and supports the establishment of an independent state of Palestine with Al-Quds Sharif as its capital.He said Pakistan has always stood by their Palestinian brothers and was desirous of seeing complete unity among their ranks.He said world needs to give up its double standards by ignoring Israeli atrocities and act resolutely to stop its aggression against the innocent Palestinian in Gaza.The Prime Minister hoped that the meeting of the Executive Committee of OIC in Jeddah would come up with a constructive and consensus decision in line with the sentiments of the Muslim world.On Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations, the Prime Minister lauded the Iranian President's efforts for defusing tension between India and Pakistan in the wake of Mumbai blasts.He expressed satisfaction that the two brotherly countries had made progress on the prospects of signing the gas pipeline and supply of electricity from Iran to Pakistan agreements.He requested Iran to extend the deferred payment of oil facility to Pakistan for one year rather than 90 days. He also hoped that Iran would set up the power plants in Pakistan to help it overcome the severe electricity shortage in the country.The Iranian Minister for Petroleum said Pakistan was a very important Islamic country and hence should assume a leading role in OIC for the resolution of the present Gaza crisis.He said Iran was mustering support of the Muslim world in this regard and needed Pakistan's assistance for taking a united stance of the Muslim Ummah on the Palestinian issue.Underscoring the critical situation in Gaza, the Iranian Minister said that role of Muslim countries at this juncture would be recorded by the history. “They should therefore forget their petty differences for countering the Israeli aggression.”Iranian Minister termed Pakistan as his second home and stated that he considered Pakistan's difficulties as Iran's and Pakistan's progress as Iran's progress.He agreed with the Prime Minister that there is an urgent need for finalization of gas pipeline project between the two countries.He promised to convey Pakistan's request for extension in the period of deferred payment of oil facility to the Iranian government.He also agreed with the Prime Minister that bilateral trade between the two countries needed to be enhanced and urged both sides to make concerted efforts to achieve that goal.
