News
Monday, April 18, 2011
Hafeez discusses development with world economic powers
WASHINGTON: Federal Minister for Finance Abdul Hafeez Sheikh discussed development partnership with leaders of major economic powers on the occasion of annual IMF-World Bank (WB) gathering.
Sheikh briefed German, British and American leaders about the government’s focus on development. German Finance Minister Dick Niebel offered his country’s support for Pakistan’s hydropower projects and small dams.
At another meeting, Dr Sheikh and UK’s Secretary of State for International Development, Andrew Mitchell, discussed economic ties between the two countries. The finance minister also had a meeting with the US Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs, Robert Hormats.
The US official assured Sheikh of Washington’s support to Pakistan in achieving greater trade access to the European Union.
Earlier, Sheikh met with his Chinese counterpart at the World Bank as the two officials pledged to step up implementation of economic partnership agreements.He is also scheduled to hold meetings with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Iran. The finance minister is heading a delegation of top economic managers to IMF-WB spring meetings that includes Finance Secretary Waqar Masood Khan, Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Salman Siddique State Bank Governor Shahid Hafeez Kardar, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Nadeemul Haq, Economic Affairs Division Secretary Abdul Wajid Rana, and Economic Affairs Counsellor at the embassy Zahid Hafeez. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk