Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has emphasized the need to enhance regional cooperation for peace and prosperity of the peoples of South Asia. He was talking to the outgoing Ambassador of Nepal, Tapas Adhikari, who paid a farewell call on him in Islamabad today [Thursday]. According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister stressed that Pakistan valued its friendly relations with Nepal. While fondly recalling his meeting with Nepalese Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli on the margins of the UNGA in New York in September this year, the Prime Minister underscored the need to expand bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade and investment. He appreciated Ambassador Tapas Adhikari's efforts to strengthen bilateral ties between Pakistan and Nepal, while acknowledging his role in promoting people-to-people contacts and cultural exchange between the two countries. Tapas Adhikari praised Pakistan's progress under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's leadership and expressed gratitude for the support extended to hi m during his tenure in Pakistan.