The Federal Government Nigeria has pledged to increase trade relations with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan from under 100 million dollars to one billion dollars in the next five years.

This is following a bilateral agreement between President Goodluck Jonathan and the visiting Pakistani President, Mamnoon Husein, in the Presidential Villa.

How to combat terrorism in their countries also took center stage with the leaders pledging to assist each other to fight terrorism.

The two countries signed memorandum of understanding covering cooperation in defence matters, agriculture, culture and industrialisation.

The first presidential visit from Pakistan in 32 years provided an opportunity for both countries to discuss how to boost economic and trade relations.

The presidential guard mounted at the forecourt of the president’s office was inspected by the visiting Pakistani President before the two Presidents went in for bilateral talks that lasted for about an hour.

Addressing journalists after the talks, President Jonathan said some of issues of common interest include how to combat terrorism were discussed.

The Pakistani president said he felt at home while in Nigeria and that the exchanges agreed were at a high level, covering several areas including human resources development, the need to enhance cooperation in counter terrorism.

They expect the foreign ministers of both countries to work out how to make such visits a continuous one and review the agreements reached so far.