Hyderabad: Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit Sunday mooted the idea of sister city relations between the two Hyderabad cities - one in India's Deccan region and the other in Pakistan's Sindh province.
On his first visit to this Indian city after taking over as high commissioner in March, Basit discussed the proposal with political leaders of Telangana, including Deputy Chief Minister Mahmood Ali.
He is likely to have more discussions with Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao Monday, the last day of his three-day visit.
During an interaction with media persons at the Hyderabad Press Club, the Pakistani envoy also mooted the idea of a relationship between the press clubs of the two Hyderabads.
He asked the Press Club to send its delegation to Hyderabad city of Pakistan. Basit, who visited the historic Mecca Masjid, Charminar and Falaknuma, said he was overwhelmed by the warm hospitality here.
He relished Hyderabadi Biryani, Haleem and other lip-smacking dishes. "This is a beautiful and historic city. It is a cultural hub. I am looking for opportunities here that can bring the two countries together," said the envoy, who also met the business community.
Stating that the world has changed beyond imagination, he said the time has come to think of some kind of inter-state relations.
"Let us think of sister-city relations between the two Hyderabads. This is the practice of a globalised world. It is a useful framework through which two
cities can come together and cooperate in many respects. "This cooperation can expand to state level. Small things add up to big things and can work as catalyst in future to bringing our two countries together," said Basit, who will also be meeting leaders of Andhra Pradesh.
The envoy called for increasing people-to-people contacts and exchanges, saying this will inject positivity in bilateral relations.
"I have been trying to see how our youth can interact with each other because the future belongs to the youth. The youth should think in broader perspective in order to overcome the difficulties the two countries are facing," he said.
