May 09, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 3, 1429

KARACHI, May 8: The acting city nazim, Nasreen Jalil, said that taking into account the features that Karachi and Mumbai had in common, the two cities should be declared ‘sister cities’.

She stressed the need for an immediate opening of visa offices in Karachi and Mumbai besides starting a ferry service between the two cities.

Ms Jalil was speaking at a function organised to felicitate the visiting Indian poets as part of the “Hamara Karachi” festivities on the lawns of the Naib Nazim Secretariat Building.

Apart from the visiting Indian poets including Mansoor Usmani, Rais Ansari, Dr Nasim Nikhat and Waseem Barelvi, the function was attended by provincial ministers Askari Taqvi, Rauf Siddiqi, former federal minister Safwanullah, various town nazims and naib nazims, members of the City Council, Dr Farman Fatehpuri, Prof Sehar Ansari, Khawaja Rafiq and others.

The acting city nazim was of the view that the Khokhrapar-Monabao train service in Sindh should also be revived on the lines of the Lahore-Amritsar Bus Service.

She stressed the need for an exchange of delegations between the two countries so as to promote peace and harmony in the region.

Speaking about the recently held mushaira, Sakinan-i-Shehr-i-Quaid, Ms Jalil said that such events would help foster better relations between the two neighbouring countries.

“Our effort should be to provide opportunities to our younger generation to take interest in such literary gatherings”, she added.

On the occasion, the visiting Indian poets thanked Nasrin Jalil.

“We have brought the gifts of love, peace and sincerity from India and carrying the same in response from here to our country”, they said. Later, they also presented their poetry.—APP