News
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Pakistan is part of solution to Afghan problems, says Gilani
* PM tells Afghan trade delegation both countries should focus on law and order to improve their economies
* Afghan trade minister condemns attack on Data DarbarISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said that Pakistan is part of the solution to problems being faced by Afghanistan and sincerely desires to work together with the Afghan government in this regard.
Pakistan, he said, really wants to improve its relations with the brotherly country of Afghanistan in all spheres of economic activity.
He said this while talking to the visiting Afghan trade delegation, led by Afghan Minister for Finance and Trade Hazrat Qamar Zakhilwal. The focus at present of both the countries, he said, should be to improve the law and order situation.
"Law and order and economy are closely linked with each other. The improved environment will automatically provide opportunities to utilise the huge potential for increasing trade and commercial activities," the PM told the Afghan delegation.
Stressing the need to increase bilateral trade, PM Gilani underlined the importance of regularising the trade as well as to check smuggling of goods.
He also stressed the significance of improving connectivity between the two countries by developing rail and road links.
"The infrastructure can be extended beyond Afghanistan to Central Asia thus leading to economic development of the entire region," the PM said.
The prime minister underlined the immediate need for closer links between the business communities of both the countries.
The Afghan minister told the PM that his meetings with other Pakistani officials were very fruitful. The Afghan minister condemned the terrorist attack on the sacred shrine of Data Gunj Bakhsh and emphasised the need to improve the security situation in both the countries. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk