ISLAMABAD: The lower houses of parliaments of Pakistan and Russia signed an agreement to enhanc parliamentary cooperation between the two countries. The agreement was signed in Moscow on Thursday by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and his counterpart Vyacheslav Volodin, the chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation. The agreement was aimed at strengthening ties between the two legislative bodies and establish permanent cooperation mechanisms through parliamentary committees, commissions and parliamentary friendship groups. A five-member parliamentary delegation, led by Mr Sadiq, is currently on a five-day visit to Russia. In his opening remarks, Mr Sadiq highlighted his long-standing friendship with Mr Volodin and said he has maintained close contacts with some members of the Russian delegation for over a decade. He also expressed his gratitude to Mr Volodin for accepting the invitation to visit Pakistan. The NA speaker thanked Mr Volodin for his support in Pakistan’s initiative to convene the Speakers’ Conference, and both sides agreed to hold its fourth session in Moscow in 2025.