Donald C McKinnon also called on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and the Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmoud Kasuri. He remained with them for some time and exchanged views on regional and commonwealth affairs besides ongoing global crisis, particularly, about the irresponsible behaviour of some of the European countries newspapers in the name of freedom of expression, which published blasphemous caricatures.
The Secretary General briefed the President on various initiatives and activities of the Commonwealth and its co-operation with the member countries in South Asia, particularly Pakistan.
The Secretary General also briefed the President on the assistance being provided to Pakistan for capacity building in the field of small and medium enterprises, media and technical education.
Shaukat said that the multi-faith 53-nation Commonwealth should come forward and play its due role in promoting interfaith harmony in the world which was crucial for peace and stability.
While talking to Donald Mckinnon who called on him here at the Prime Minister House, Prime Minister said the publication of blasphemous material in some European newspapers has hurt the feelings not only of Muslims hut of the followers of other faiths. He emphasised the need of taking initiatives to prevent recurrence of such sacrilegious material.
The Prime Minister said the Parliament in Pakistan is functioning smoothly and there is no restriction on political activities in the country.
Talking about the situation in the region, the Prime Minister said Pakistan is playing a stabilising role in its neighbourhood. He said the peace process with India is going ahead although the pace of dispute resolution is slow.
He emphasised the need for early settlement of Kashmir dispute as it makes or breaks peace in the South Asia. On the issue of Afghanistan, the Prime Minister said Pakistan had extended full support to the Karzai government, as a strong and stable Afghanistan is good for people of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
He said Pakistan is opposed to the use of military action against Iran as every country has the right to pursue peaceful nuclear programme. It was also agreed that enhanced co-operation would also be instituted in various other fields such as banking and finance, information technology, telecommunications and higher education.
While talking to Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri here on Saturday, the Commonwealth Secretary General briefed the Foreign Minister on the Commonwealth initiatives to foster greater co-operation with member countries in South Asia, in general, and Pakistan, in particular.
Foreign Minister stressed that the Commonwealth, whose members included both OIC and EU countries - could play an important role in promoting understanding and harmony between cultures and faiths in the wake of the controversy over publication of blasphemous caricatures.
Views were also exchanged on the follow up of the decisions taken at the Malta CHOGM in November last year, which was attended by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Foreign Minister Kasuri.