PM praises US quake help
By Uzma Zafar

ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Monday appreciated the role of United States of America for helping the people of Pakistan to cope with the earthquake aftermath. Talking to a three-member delegation of US Congressmen led by Jim Kolbe here at the PM House, the Prime Minister acknowledged the financial, technical and moral support provided by the people and government of US to Pakistan in this difficult time.
He also appreciated the personal interest taken by the US President George W. Bush by involving CEOs of US corporate sector to spearhead the campaign for mobilizing donors support for the affected areas of Pakistan and AJK. The Prime Minister appreciated the provision of medical support, helicopters, engineers by the US and its assistance pledged at the donors’ conference in Islamabad on November 19.
The Prime Minister observed that the response of international community in the relief, rescue and reconstruction plans showed that humanity transcended all borders. He said the government was working round the clock for early rehabilitation of people in earthquake affected areas and relief and reconstruction measures were being run in parallel. He said the government’s focus was on opening of schools to revive normal life.
The Prime Minister said the government has evolved detailed programmes and procedures to spend the donations in a transparent and judicious manner. He also informed the delegation of the sponsorship programme for individuals and organizations to sponsor reconstruction of school, hospital, village etc. or sponsor a child or a family.
The Congressmen, including Mark Kirk and Fred Upton, expressed sympathy on behalf of government and people of US for the victims of earthquake in Pakistan. They assured the Prime Minister of the full support of US government in the rehabilitation plans for earthquake affected areas.
Referring to his discussions at the recently concluded Commonwealth Summit at Malta, the Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s stand on the need of phasing out agricultural subsidies. “The developed countries need to come up with a timetable to gradually abolish agricultural subsidies as the farmers of developing world are at a great disadvantage due to this policy and US should play its role to abolish the subsidies”, he said.
The Prime Minister said the forthcoming Hong Kong Round was very important as the success of Doha development agenda depends on this conference. Jim Kolbe appreciated the efforts made by the Pakistan government for the rehabilitation of earthquake affected areas and assured Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz of the full support of US in this difficult time. He said the donor’s support provided to Pakistan is very encouraging for the country. Ryan C. Crocker US Ambassador in Pakistan informed the Prime Minister about various US Aid programmes to help quake-hit people.