News
Sunday, June 20, 2010
World ‘inaction’ accentuating Pak financial crisis: Gilani
* Prime minister says extremist elements taking advantage of world community delaying delivery of assistance to Pakistan
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The delay in the delivery of timely assistance to Pakistan by the international community has accentuated the country’s economic and energy crises, and extremist elements are taking advantage of the situation, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Saturday.
Talking to US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke at the Prime Minister’s House, Gilani said public support in the war against terrorism could only be kept intact if the international community, particularly donor countries, started delivering on their pledges to help the country undertake immediate measures to provide relief to the affected people, and initiating infrastructure and social sector projects in the conflict areas.
The prime minister warned that time was running out fast for his government’s rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the areas cleared of the terrorists, and the assistance pledged at the Tokyo Donors Conference over a year ago, was yet to be delivered by the donor countries.
Gilani appreciated the fact that the US and Japanese government had taken the initiative to urge the donor countries to deliver on their promises.
He thanked the US for its intercession with the European Union to approve a grant of GSP Plus facilities to Pakistan, which would assist Islamabad in gaining greater access for its products to the EU markets.
Gilani requested the US to redouble its efforts to ensure that the ROZ legislation was passed by the Congress at the earliest.
While commenting on the forthcoming visits of Indian home and external affairs ministers and the Indian foreign secretary to Pakistan, Gilani reaffirmed the country’s keen desire to have good neighbourly relations with India through the peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues.
ROZs: Richard Holbrooke told Gilani that US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were personally pursuing Pakistan’s case for ROZs legislation at the Capitol Hill.
He said all measures required were being taken to expedite Pakistan’s claims against outstanding CSF payments.
The special envoy said the US would closely watch the forthcoming meetings between India and Pakistan, with a sense of anticipation.
He agreed with Gilani that Pakistan and US should coordinate their positions and help the Afghan government in its peace efforts. Holbrooke also praised the role of the Pakistan Army in the war against terrorism.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk