MY recent visit to Pakistan was quite unlike any of my previous visits abroad as an MP, and such visits are important if we are to know and understand the world in which we live.

It would be no secret to say that the timing was not of my favourite choice with an election looming. I found it difficult to escape from Westminster and Burnley for six days.

Having said that Whip's approval was given and a programme agreed. Clearly for the Burnley Mayor, Councillor Rafique Malik -- first elected to the council 25 years ago on the same day as me in May 1976 -- this was a visit of tremendous importance to return to his roots in Pakistan. And what a welcome he received. We had bands, large crowds, garlands and rose petals in great profusion.

Just after arriving and before lunch with the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, Mr Sultan Mahmood we had the experience of a Richter scale 6.2 earthquake. I had just got into my room when the violent shake took place and I have to say it was not a pleasant experience.

In Muzzafrabad, which is a really beautiful spot in the mountains and could be a tourist area, we visited a refugee camp. It now had corrugated iron roofs, which were not there when I had gone before in 1994 and certainly gave a bit better shelter.

But the Mayor was brought to tears by the heartbreaking stories of rape, torture, forced removal and divided families.

We then travelled on to Mirpur, which was a very long and torturous journey and we arrived every where very late.

Next on tothen Gujrat-- the town from which the mayor originates. We met the Prime Minister again and went on to a rally in a nearby village. Hundreds of people were on the roofs as we drove by and I am told more than 6,000 at the rally.

I was one of the speakers and this was the biggest audience of the week.

More engagements in Gujrat - more garlands and bands etc and then similar on the final day in Jhelum. Our last official visit was to a voluntary special school. No great equipment, not a lot of resources but dedication and commitment and what a magnificent job they do.

Pakistan is a great country but it has a lot of problems. As friends we should help them with their efforts to restore democracy, improve the economy and secure a solution to the Kashmir problem.

I would hope one day, as I have said several times, to step over the line of control because the line no longer exists. The benefits to Kashmir, Pakistan, India and the area as a whole would be tremendous.

I hope they have the courage to find that solution and that we have the commitment to enable this problem, which has now been the subject of United Nation Resolutions for nearly 54 years, to be solved.