BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan: Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan are working to further enhance contact between parliamentarians of both the countries.
The Ambassador of Pakistan in Bishkek Faisal Niaz Tirmizi called on Ishaq Pirmatov, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on International Affairs, Defence and Security in here on Thursday and discussed modalities for enhancing contact between parliamentarians of Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan.
According to a statement issued by Embassy of Pakistan in Bishkek, Pirmatov welcomed Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi and expressed his satisfaction over existing level of cooperation between the two countries.
Ishaq Pirmatov hoped that air service would resume between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan. He also expressed satisfaction on the holding of the Joint Ministerial Commission meeting between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan in 2017 and hoped its next session would be held in 2019.
Pirmatov also underscored the need for more tourism between the two countries. He expressed satisfaction over the fact that many Muftis were getting religious education from Pakistan and hoped their numbers would increase in years to come.
Ambassador Tirmizi informed Pirmatov that in order to increase trade and tourism, the Government of Pakistan had reduced the visa fee for Kyrgyz citizens to US $ 25 from US$ 132, adding that this step is likely to encourage more people from Kyrgyzstan to visit Pakistan.
Further, he added that, the presence of 2,600 students was contributing at least US$ 24 million to the Kyrgyz economy.
However, there was a need to improve the quality of education in Kyrgyzstan to encourage more Pakistani students to avail this opportunity.
Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi in his remarks also underscored the need for more interactions between parliamentarians of both countries.
Faisal Tirmizi also suggested number of parliamentarians in the Pak-Kyrgyz Friendship Group should increase. He also invited Mr. Pirmatov to join the Group which he gladly accepted. At present four members of Parliament are its members.
It is pertinent to mention that the Speaker of the Kyrgyz Parliament, Dastanbek Dzumanbekov Artisbekovich had extended an invitation to Asad Qaiser, the Speaker, National Assembly of Pakistan to visit Kyrgyzstan. Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, has also extended an invitation to Dastanbek Dzumanbekov to pay an official visit to Pakistan. Dates of both visits are being finalized.
Pirmatov is considered as one of the most important and powerful parliamentarians in Kyrgyzstan and heads its most powerful Committee overlooking foreign affairs and security.
A graduate from the Law Faculty of the Osh State University, Pirmatov has been a member of Jogorku Kenesh since October 2010. Previously he had headed the Parliamentary Committees on Transport, Communications, Architecture and Construction as well as on Economy.
