UFA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday suggested a four-pronged approach encompassing people-to-people contacts, confidence-building in peace and security, trade and regional connectivity among the BRICS countries for the uplift of their people.

Addressing the BRICS Outreach meeting on the sidelines of the SCO Summit, the prime minister said Pakistan valued its interaction with BRICS, which consisted of important countries of the region and beyond.

Nawaz, along with his delegation, arrived here on the second leg of his visit from Oslo to lead the Pakistani delegation at the 15th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit and 7th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Summit.

The delegation included Adviser to PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi.

As Nawaz reached the Congress Hall to attend the BRICS Outreach meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin received him.

In his address, Nawaz called for collectively focusing on improvement and well-being of the people.

He proposed to promote mutual understanding, cooperation and goodwill through cultural, academic interaction and people-to-people contacts.

Calling for promotion of confidence, he said confidence-building in peace and security was an essential ingredient for endeavors towards shared prosperity.

The prime minister suggested promoting bilateral and regional trade and commerce; coordination to introduce cohesive laws, reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers; and easing the movement of people and merchandise across borders.

He also proposed promoting connectivity by investing in regional infrastructure including investment in better transport networks such as roads, motorways, railways, and air and sea links.

He congratulated President Putin on hosting the 7th BRICS Summit and the 15th SCO Summit.

“We are grateful to our host, President Vladimir Putin and the Government of the Russian Federation, for bringing SCO and BRICS member community together under one roof. This would go a long way in promoting inclusive and synergetic approach to economic development,” he remarked.

“This interaction coincides with the consensus to make Pakistan a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO),” the prime minister said.

“Pakistan's economic growth has remained steady. We have unveiled 'Vision-2025' to provide a solid platform for the revival of sustainable and inclusive growth. Potential growth sectors such as infrastructure, power and natural resources, are open to large scale investments,” Nawaz said.

"Pakistan's economic growth has remained steady. We have unveiled "Vision-2025", to provide a solid platform for the revival of sustainable and inclusive growth. The potential growth sectors such as infrastructure, power and natural resources, are open to large scale investments," he said.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said he had a vision of "peace for development and development for peace," for the region, of which regional connectivity and economic integration were key components.

Towards this end, he said, Pakistan had been actively engaged at several regional fora including SAARC and ECO.

Pakistan will be hosting Summit meetings of both these important regional organisations in future, he added.

He said Pakistan had been collaborating with a number of SCO and BRICS members to for the progress and prosperity of our people.

The premier said with Chinese collaboration, Pakistan was building the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, as an important part of President Xi Jinping's visionary initiative of 'One Road and One Belt' and a 'Community of Shared Destiny.'

Nawaz said Pakistan's fight against terror including the ongoing military operation was not only for the protection of Pakistan but was very critical for peace in the region as well as the international community.

In this endeavour, Pakistan had rendered huge sacrifices in terms of human and economic losses, Nawaz said. "But this has not weakened our resolve to fight against extremism and to uproot terrorism."

"We remain absolutely determined to take this campaign to its logical conclusion in order to achieve our objective of a peaceful and prosperous region."