News
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Pakistan seeks temporary protected status for its nationals in US* Information minister says joint border management working group will be formed to impart training to Customs, FIA personnel and security forces
WASHINGTON: Pakistan has formally asked the US to consider grant of temporary protected status for its nationals currently living in the US without proper documentation in view of devastation caused by the floods in the country, Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said on Friday.
He said Pakistan handed over a letter to the Homeland Security Department on the second day of the Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue, requesting the grant of the temporary immigration status. The US gives temporary protected status (TPS) to nationals of designated countries which face situations like environmental disasters or armed conflicts.
The Homeland Security Department said it would look into the request.
Briefing the media at the end of the daylong deliberations by various working groups, Kaira said that the Obama administration had committed to step up efforts for a requisite congressional legislation on allowing reconstruction opportunity zones in Pakistan.
It was decided that a group of major US buyers of textile products would visit Pakistan to purchase local products, the minister said.
The information minister also briefed the media about the outcome of discussions by the working group on law enforcement cooperation.
As per decisions taken on Thursday, a joint border management working group will be formed to impart training to Customs and FIA personnel and security forces assigned at borders, airports and international entry points. The training courses will be held in Dubai.
A workshop will be held on November 28 to help train personnel for mine clearing in the conflict zones. Another workshop will be held in January 2011 in Islamabad under the global shield training programme.
Besides, a $125 million programme on increasing the capacity of Pakistani law enforcement officials had already been underway. Under the programme the civil law enforcement personnel had been provided armoured personnel carriers (APCs), night vision equipment, jackets, mine detectors and helmets, Kaira said. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk