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Wednesday, June 30, 2010
UK keen to expand trade ties with Pakistan: Hague
* UK foreign secretary says Confederation of British Industry to look into various business areas for investment
LONDON: Terming his last week’s visit to Pakistan as “positive and substantial”, the British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the UK was keen to expand business and commercial ties with the country, which has a range of opportunities for British entrepreneurs.
Briefing media on his return from a three-day visit which he described as the longest overseas tour since he became the foreign secretary last month, Hague said the new British government was committed to ‘a long-term productive’ friendship with Pakistan.
He said that during the course of his visit he held in-depth discussion with the Pakistani leadership including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani, National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza, the provincial leadership in Sindh and the business community in Karachi.
Saying that Britain has a very good working relationship with Pakistan, Hague added that his government wants to further deepen and broaden it. “We want the people of Pakistan to know that the UK desires a long-term relationship with Pakistan,” he said.
He spoke of his visit to the Karachi Stock Exchange and the Pakistan Business Council and found many business opportunities, which could help the two countries further strengthen their economic relationship.
Hague said the Confederation of British Industry, the UK’s highest business organisation, has been requested to look into various areas which could lead to more British investments in Pakistan.
Speaking about his country’s 665 million pounds development assistance to Pakistan over the next four years, he said the funds would be utilised mainly for improving infrastructure and boosting health and education facilities, while 50 million pounds would support the reconstruction in the conflict zone in Swat and the adjoining region. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk
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