Pakistan and Sri Lanka close allies: Shehbaz

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday agreed to continue the long-standing cooperation in areas of mutual interest and further strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries.

The prime minister held a telephone call with the Sri Lankan president. The prime minister emphasized the need to work together to fight poverty and promote economic growth and development for the benefit of the entire region, the PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

He also expressed his desire to promote peace and enhance connectivity through regional cooperation. The two leaders fondly recalled the close and cordial relations, and immense goodwill between the people of the two countries. The Sri Lankan president thanked the prime minister for conveying warm sentiments on behalf of the people of Pakistan.

Separately on his Twitter handle, the prime minister said the bilateral ties between Pakistan and Sri Lanka were underpinned by reservoirs of goodwill and good neighbourliness between the two countries. “I had the pleasure of speaking to H.E. Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Sri Lanka, earlier today to thank him for his support to Pakistan during my meeting with MD IMF,” he added.

Over the decades, the prime minister further said that Pakistan and Sri Lanka had been close allies and friends, and stood by each other through thick and thin. “I remember how a team of Sri Lankan doctors stayed in Lahore and helped the Punjab government deal with dengue epidemic which was devouring precious human lives in Lahore,” the prime minister said in a tweet. He also expressed his desire to working with the Sri Lankan president to further build on the friendly relations between the two countries.

PM briefed about hydroelectric projects: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with Chairman Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Lt General (R) Sajjad Ghani and received briefing about the ongoing hydroelectric projects and the projects for producing energy at a lower cost.

During the meeting, he also briefed the PM about the pace of progress on all mega dam projects including Dasu, Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand dams. He also apprised him about the effect of recent rains on the water reservoirs in the country.

Shahzain calls on Shehbaz: Minister for Narcotics Control Nawabzada Shahzain Bugti called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.

During the meeting, they discussed the current political situation in the country at length, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release. The matters related to the relevant ministry also came under discussion.