Islamabad
On the sidelines of the Seminar in Mexico, the Deputy Chairman Senate Saleem Mandviwalla had a meeting with Ms. Lourdes Cruz Trinidad, Vice Minister for Agriculture and Dr. Javier Trujillo, Director General, National Service of Health, Safety and Agri-food Quality (SENASICA) at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The two sides agreed that Pakistan and Mexico could benefit from their respective expertise in agriculture. They discussed the possible avenues of collaboration in agriculture such as avocado cultivation in Pakistan.
The Deputy Chairman Senate also took up the matter of lifting of the ban on the export of rice from Pakistan by Mexican authorities. After detailed discussion the Mexican side conveyed its general agreement for lifting of ban after completion of some procedural formalities. It is hoped that the import of rice from Pak will resume in near future. The Deputy Chairman also proposed the signing of an MoU on Agricultural Cooperation which was welcomed by the Mexican side.
Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Deputy Chairman Senate is leading a Parliamentary delegation to Mexico to attend the Executive Education Parliamentary Leadership Programme organized under the auspices of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Besides attending the seminar, the Deputy Chairman had an extensive programme to strengthen Parliamentary Cooperation between Pakistan and Mexico. Ms. Monica Fernandez Balboa, President of the Senate of Mexico received the Deputy Chairman and members of delegation in the Senate of Mexico.
Referring to the long history of cordial relations between Pakistan and Mexico, the Deputy Chairman stressed upon the need of further strengthening of these ties through parliamentary diplomacy. He urged upon setting up of a Pakistan-Mexico Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Senate of Mexico. He also extended invitation to the President of Senate to visit Pakistan to deepen parliamentary cooperation. Ms. Munoz warmly welcomed the delegation and agreed with the Deputy Chairman to strengthen parliament cooperation. She identified a number of areas such as climate change.—INP
