India agrees to the need to revive parliamentarian forum with Pakistan

New Delhi, Jan 6 (ANI): India on Wednesday agreed that there is need to revive and activate the India-Pakistan Parliamentarian Forum, which strengthens bilateral relations at various levels.

Addressing the valedictory session of the 20th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar said: "There was no bilateral meeting with them (Pakistani delegates). There were talks in which we told them that we will definitely revive it (India-Pakistan Parliamentarian Forum) and they also said that they will reciprocate," Kumar said.

On Tuesday, Kumar had met Pakistan's National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza on the sidelines of CSPOC.

Highlighting the advantages of information technology (IT), she strongly advocated the usage of latest technologies for the efficient functioning of the sessions in the parliament and allied provincial assemblies.

"You cannot really avoid IT technology, it should be increased, should be available in the House for the efficiency for the functioning and also for transparency and also for the honourable members to upgrade their knowledge and their database," Kumar said.

She also called for strengthening the Parliamentary institutions to tackle the challenges faced by the polities and societies across the globe.

Around 250 delegates participated in the CSPOC and these included 34 Speakers and presiding officers of elected parliamentary and legislative bodies and allied officials such as Secretary Generals. (ANI)