ISLAMABAD: The Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan left Islamabad on Tuesday for a three- day official visit to Norway.
During her visit the Minister will receive an award on behalf of the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
The ‘Bridge Builder Award 2011’ has been conferred on the Prime Minister for his efforts to improve Pakistan’s relations with western countries.
The award is given annually to individuals who make valuable contributions in building bridges between people, religions and cultures.
The 2009 award was conferred on the US President Barack Obama and last year the recipient was actress and UN goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie.
During her visit, the Minister will attend official meetings with Mr. Jonas Gahr, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Norway, Ms. Erna Solberg, opposition leader of Norwegian Parliament and Mr. Per Kristian Foss, Vice President of Norwegian Parliament.
She is also expected to meet with a high level business delegation of the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) in order to promote mutual investment among the two countries.
The Minister will meet with Mr. Jon Fedrik Baksaas, President and CEO of Telenor Group to discuss the group’s future investment plans in Pakistan.
The Minister will also visit the Norwegian Island of Utoya, the site of gun attack which claimed the lives of 69 people on 22nd July, 2011.
She will offer condolences on behalf of the President, Prime Minister and the people of Pakistan over the massacre and will express her sympathies with the families and friends of those who lost their precious lives in the gory incident. The Minister will also visit to the Embassy of Pakistan and meet with the community leaders.
On her departure, the Minister said that Pakistan attaches special importance to its relations with Norway and is also desirous of enhancing trade ties with Norway.
She stressed the need for enhancing people-to-people contacts and exchange of parliamentary delegations between the two countries to expand bilateral relations.
The on going visit of the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting to Norway is a mile stone in furthering the relationship in multi faceted dimensions between Pakistan and Norway.
Copyright NNI (News Network International), 2010
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