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Sunday, June 20, 2010
US assistance to Pakistan will continue: HolbrookeStaff Report
ISLAMABAD: The United States will continue to provide economic assistance to Pakistan so that the country’s economy is built on sound footing, US Special Envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke said on Saturday.
The US delegation, led by the US special envoy, held talks with Federal Minister for Finance Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Chairwoman Farzana Raja separately.
Praising the contribution of Pakistan in the war on terror, Holbrooke said the United States attached great importance to its relations with Pakistan and expressed hope that the ties would grow in the days to come.
He lauded the idea of the involvement of the private sector in the process of economic collaboration between the two countries.
United States National Security Staff Senior Director for International Economics David Lipton offered technical assistance in the fields of finance and taxation to improve Pakistan’s treasury structure.
The minister for finance said the United States economic assistance to Pakistan played a very important role in the development of the national economy.
Shaikh said the relations between Pakistan and the United States had a long history. He stressed the need for involvement of the private sectors of both countries in strengthening the bilateral economic collaboration.
He also invited United States involvement in sectors such as agriculture and science and technology. Earlier, the US delegation was briefed about the current economic situation in the country.
Benazir Income Support Programme Chairwoman Farzana Raja informed the US delegation about the salient features of the BISP programme, the Smart Card Scheme, the Wasila-e-Haq Programme and the Health Insurance Scheme introduced for the benefit of the poor in the country. The Minister of State for Finance Hina Rabbani Khar and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Dr Nadeemul Haq were also present in the meeting.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk