News
Friday, July 01, 2011
Trade, not aid, solution of Pak problems: Zardari
* President says world must find a permanent solution to sources of funding for terrorists and drug trafficking
LONDON: President Asif Ali Zardari has emphasised that trade, not aid, is solution to Pakistan’s economic problems, said Spokesman to the President Farhatullah Babar.
Talking to media men after conclusion of meeting of the president with British Minister for International Development Alan Duncan on Thursday, Babar said the president appreciated UK’s development assistance to Pakistan of over GBP 665 million committed for 2009-2013 as development assistance in the social sector.
The president said that UK and Pakistan needed to strengthen their partnership in the realms of education, science and technology and cultural fields besides work closely for more trade and investment in Pakistan.
He focused on the need to enhance and strengthen Pakistan’s counter-terrorism capacity through provision of equipment, training facilities and sharing of timely intelligence. The president, while commenting on the progress on Pakistan Education Task Force, said that both the countries needed to further enhance cooperation since the education sector needed special attention as a long-term measure to neutralize militant mindset. Education, the president said, was a long-term answer to extremism and militancy, and added that Pak- UK Education Task Force was an important theme of the strategic dialogue.
Discussing regional issues, the president said that Pakistan had always called upon the international community to find a permanent solution to the sources of funding for militants, and address the issue of illegal drugs production and trafficking that is a major threat to international peace and stability. He said that a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan was in the interests of Pakistan, and Pakistan had always supported every effort of the international community in this regard.
Pak-UK bilateral relations, strategic dialogue, regional situation, rehabilitation of flood-affected people, meeting of Pakistan Development Forum and other related issues were also discussed during the meeting, officials said.
Duncan was accompanied by British High Commissioner to Pakistan Sir Adam Thomson.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was also present during the meeting.
The British minister appreciated the efforts of the Pakistani government and its security forces against militancy and reiterated British support to the democratic government in Pakistan.
He said that Britain would continue to support Pakistan in every possible manner in overcoming difficulties faced by the country in various areas. Duncan said that his government would extend all possible support in employment generation and poverty eradication in strife-torn and flood-stricken areas of Pakistan.
He also assured continued support of the British government to Pakistan’s efforts in fight against militancy.
Among others who attended the meeting included PPP Secretary General Salman Farooqi, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to UK Wajid Shamsul Hassan, Spokesperson Farhatullah Babar and other senior officials. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk