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Cabinet satisfied over Pak-US strategic dialogue: Kaira


LAHORE, Oct 27 (APP): The Federal Cabinet meeting after being briefed by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, expressed satisfaction over the recently concluded third round of Strategic Dialogue with the United States. Federal Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira told media that the cabinet meeting was held at the Governor House here on Wednesday to review the implementation of its previous meeting’s decisions with an objective to improve coordination with the province.

Kaira said that the Prime Minister had directed the Foreign Minister to take the Senate and the National Assembly into confidence regarding the Pak-US strategic dialogue.
The PPP-led coalition government has the credit of expanding the scope of this strategic dialogue from five to 13 sectors, besides enhancing its level up to Pakistan Foreign Minister and US Secretary of State, he added.
He said now the food security, agriculture, industry, energy as well as public diplomacy and IT sectors had also been incorporated in the dialogue. The Pak-US relations were being made public centric to strengthen democracy in Pakistan, he added.
He said the Steering Committee headed by Secretary Foreign Affairs of Pakistan and Ambassador Richard Hoolbrooke would follow up on decisions of the dialogue, while Vision Paper covering all the 13 sectors and the mechanism had been prepared to monitor the progress.
US President Barak Obama also met Pakistani delegation and was strong supporter of democracy in Pakistan. He made commitment to visit Pakistan next year and also invited President Asif Ali Zardari to visit his country, he mentioned.
The Federal Information Minister said that the US had assured a five-year $ 1.5 billion economic assistance package per annum under the Kerry-Lugar Law for socio-economic development of Pakistan, besides announcing another five-year Security Assistance Package worth $ 2 billion.
Kaira said the Coalition Support Fund would be expedited and Pakistan would receive $ 750 million by next month end, asserting that America would also help modernize and upgrade the law enforcement agencies of Pakistan, including supply of necessary equipment and $ 125 million had been allocated for this purpose.
The US has earmarked $ 300 million for Enterprise Fund to promote public-private partnership in Pakistan through corporate investment, he maintained.
He said that America had recognized and appreciated Pakistan’s role and services against terrorism. Pakistani delegation also apprised the US administration and the IMF about the flood devastations and in which sector we need cooperation, he added.
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani congratulated the Pakistan team for strategic dialogue, and the entire cabinet expressed its satisfaction over the outcome of the dialogue.


Courtesy www.app.com.pk

 

 

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