—seeks help in market access to Pak products
By Shakeel Ahmed
ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has called upon the US to channelise its economic assistance through a transparent mechanism established by the Government of Pakistan like the Trust Fund for Malakand, Higher Education Commission, National Commission for Human Development and Benazir Income Support Programme for the socio-economic development, education and reconstruction in the militancy effected areas of Pakistan.
Underlining the importance of revival of Pakistan’s economy, he said that the US should play the leading role by providing enhanced marked access to Pakistani products as well as encouraging investment in the Pakistan’s diverse economic sectors at this critical juncture of its history.
The Prime Minister said this while talking to a US Congressional delegation headed by Mr. Johan Tierney which called on him at the PM’s House Wednesday afternoon.
Speaking on the successful operation against terrorists in which Pakistan armed forces, Frontier Corps, Frontier Constabulary and Police had made huge sacrifices, the Prime Minister emphasized that much needed equipment for the capacity building should immediately be supplied to Pakistan in order to carry the ongoing operation to its logical conclusion.
The Prime Minister said that the US must take Pakistan into confidence on the review of its policy on Afghanistan and also asked them to ensure that their intended military build up in Afghanistan should not cast effect on Balochistan and other areas of the country.
Prime Minister stressed that US and the ISAF forces should fully coordinate and improve the present level of intelligence sharing with the Pakistan’s side to solidify the ongoing operation against militancy on both sides of Pakistan - Afghan border.
Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said that Pakistan considered the stability in Afghanistan as vital to its own stability and was looking forward towards continued cooperation with the new Karzai Government in that regard.
It was crucially important to sanitize the Pakistan-Afghanistan border to prevent the flow of weapons, drugs, illicit money and militants while Pakistan was in the thick of its endeavours to root out the menace of terrorism from its territory, he said.
Prime Minister reaffirmed the government’s resolve to seek the resolution of all the disputes with India through resumption of composite dialogue particularly the fostering dispute of Kashmir and water issues.
He hoped that the US and international community would play their role in this regard to bring lasting peace to South Asia.
He also suggested that US should take steps like release of Dr Afia Siddiqui, extension of full bright scholarship programme for Pakistani students beyond 2010 and special allocation of 500 scholarships for the children of martyred and injured in operations against the terrorists as this would create goodwill.
Congressmen John Tierney expressed his deep appreciation of the commitment of the Government of Pakistan against terrorism by acknowledging the fact that these evil forces cannot be defeated without Pakistan’s proactive role.
He lauded the sacrifices of Pakistan armed forces and law enforcement agencies and condoled with their families as well as with the families of innocent citizens who had laid their lives in their country’s pursuit to defeat terrorism.
John Tierney and other Congressmen assured the Prime Minister that they, through the US Congress, will fully support provision of assistance to Pakistan in education, health sectors as well as for capacity building of its armed forces and law enforcement agencies.
They appreciated the proposal for extension of full bright scholarship programme and provision of scholarship to the children of the effected families and promised to play a role towards this end.
They apprised the Prime Minister that US House of Representative had already passed ROZ Bill along with Kerry-Lugar legislation and promised to take up this spell in the near future in coordination with the US Senate to provide much awaited financial support for creating employment and business opportunities in the tribal areas of Pakistan.
Other members of the delegation included Mr. George Miller, Mr. Peter Welch and Ron Kind. US Ambassador to Pakistan Ms. Anne W. Patterson was also present in the meeting.
Minister for Defence, Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Minister for Interior, Mr. Rehman Malik, Minister of State for Finance, Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, Senator Syeda Sughra Imam and other senior government officials were also present on this occasion.
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