Zardari urges Pak-Britain trade, investment ties
ISLAMABAD (SANA): President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday stressed the need for Pakistan and Britain to work closely to further enhance their partnership in diverse areas mainly trade, investment and educational development.
Talking to Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, British Foreign Secretary’s special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan who called on him Aiwan-e-Sadr, the President said the partnership should be in view to eliminate militancy and terrorism from Pakistan and promote peace in the region and the world.
The matters relating to bilateral relations between the two countries, access to Pakistani products in European Union markets, regional issues, Pakistan’s fight against militancy and the forthcoming Pak-EU Summit were discussed in the meeting.
Those who attended the meeting included Salman Faruqui, Secretary General to the President, Senator Sughra Imam, federal secretaries foreign affairs, defence, and interior and senior government officials. British Deputy High Commissioner in Pakistan Peter Tibber was also present.
The President said Pakistan look forward for the continued support of the British government in the EU for access to Pakistani products into the EU markets and initiation of the process towards Free Trade Agreement.
This would help boost Pakistan’s economy and alleviating poverty by generating employment opportunities in the country, he said.
President Zardari said any initiative on Afghanistan should ensure Afghan ownership of the process as well as territorial integrity of the country and that its soil was not used against any of its neighbors.
Pakistan stands for peaceful, stable, friendly and united Afghanistan, as Pakistan is directly impacted by any development relating to Afghanistan, the President said.
The President while referring to the military surge in Afghanistan stressed the need for close coordination to avoid negative fallout on our side and cautioned against any actions that may result in pushing afghan insurgents into Balochistan province.
Development in Afghanistan should be a matter of high priority as prosperity can help stem the rising tide of terrorism and militancy, the President said and added that Pakistan is making significant contribution in reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.
The President during the meeting also invited attention of the international community towards the early return of over 3 million afghan refugees still residing in Pakistan.
He appreciated the UK’s development assistance worth œ665 million and additional œ50 million assistance to support Pakistan’s development plans.
The President underlined the need for greater cooperation in the education sector as a long term measure to fight the extremist mindset and expressed the hope that the Pakistan-UK Education Task Force already set up would make speedy progress.
Translate this news
Comments are closed.
