BRUSSELS: The 11-member Pakistani delegation visiting Brussels met with Member of the European Parliament of Pakistan origin Sajjad Karim and discussed Implications of Brexit on United Kingdom, European Union and Pakistan.
Both sides agreed that Pakistan needs to open itself more towards the European market. In the briefings of different directorates of the administration of the Parliament, the delegation was briefed about the mechanisms of coordination and linkages between the European parliament and the national parliaments of member states.
The research work for committees, delegations and the plenary was also explained to the visiting members. The delegation’s presence was acknowledged in the foreign affairs committee meeting. The delegation was also shown the house where the plenary sessions take place.
A working lunch was also hosted for the delegation by MEP from Germany Micheal Gahler who is also the former chief observer to Pakistan during the 2013 elections. He was of the opinion that Pakistan should work on making the present system more efficient and that the electronic voting machines would not be a feasible option for Pakistan.
Earlier, the delegation met MEPs Jean Lambert from UK and Joachim Zeller from Germany. Lambert, who has visited Pakistan a couple of times hoped that even if Britain leaves the EU, it will not affect the trade avenues for Pakistan while at the same time Pakistan also needs to open itself more to the large European market.
Pakistan’s deputy head of mission in Brussels Muhammad Khalid Jamali and economic minister Omar Hameed were also present in the meeting.
