News
Friday, January 07, 2011
PM urges US to speed up release of KL funds
* Gilani regrets important donor countries did not fully fulfill pledges made bilaterally or at Tokyo Donors Conference
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday urged the US to speed up the release of funds of high visibility projects, particularly in the energy sector, from the appropriated amount pledged by the US Congress under the Kerry-Lugar assistance package.
He regretted the fact that important donor countries had not fully fulfilled their pledges made bilaterally or at the Tokyo Donors Conference to help Pakistan overcome the severe negative impact on its economy in the wake of the world economic recession, the war on terror, devastating unprecedented floods and the rising oil and gas prices.
The PM was talking to Frank J Ruggiero, the US acting special representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, who called on him at his Parliament House Chamber.
Cameron Munter, the US ambassador to Pakistan, was also present in the meeting.
Reiterating his government’s resolve to persist in its war on terror, the PM underlined that the assistance being offered by Pakistan’s friends and allies as well as by international financial institutions should have taken into account the objective conditions and Pakistan’s sacrifices to ensure that ordinary people do not face further hardships.
He hoped that USAID would fast-track its assistance for Pakistan’s development projects and release funds meant for the projects agreed in the working groups in the last session of the strategic dialogue.
He also called upon the US government to expedite the reimbursement of Coalition Support Fund payments and work with the new Congress for the ROZs legislation and establishment of an enterprise fund to help Pakistan overcome its present difficulties.
The PM welcomed the signing of agreements earlier in the day by the two countries on the US contributions of $190 million for damage compensation fund, which he hoped would contribute towards his government’s efforts to redress the hardship of the flood affected people in the country.
The PM apprised Frank J Ruggiero of his discussion with the Afghan leadership during his visit to Kabul last month and stated that he would be having an in-depth discussion with Professor Barhanuddin Rabbani, the High Council of Peace in Afghanistan chairman, today (Friday).
He stressed that Pakistan supports political dialogue and reconciliation process in Afghanistan, but believed that it should be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned.
Ruggiero conveyed heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer and informed the PM that he had been sent to Pakistan by the secretary of state to convey the US government’s firm commitment to continue with its strategic partnership with Pakistan. He said that President Obama fully recognised the sacrifices of the Pakistan armed forces and civilian population in the war against terror and was cognisant of the economic difficulties that Pakistan had to face in the present circumstances.
He said that he would be signing the assistance contract for construction of two dams in Pakistan today. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk