Updated on
Summary
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani Wednesday said that reconstruction and development of the areas already cleared in military operation was imperative to win the hearts and minds of the affected people and for the success of Pakistans ongoing campaign against militancy and terrorism. He urged that the US should fast track its assistance through established channels of Government of Pakistan to effectively implement the Malakand reconstruction strategy. The Prime Minister was talking to Ambassador Richard Holbrook, US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan who called on him at the Prime Minister House this afternoon. The Prime Minister welcomed the progress made in the energy dialogue between the two countries after signing of an MoU today for improvement and upgradation of Tarbela Dam. It will lead to an additional 80 mega watt of electricity to national grid before the middle of this year. He informed the US Special Representative that the bulk of eleven thousand tube wells to be financed with the US financial support, should be installed in Balochistan to help develop the agriculture sector in that province. Gilani reiterated the need for expeditious disbursement of long withheld Coalition Support Fund payments to Pakistan as delays in payments by the US was eroding the capacity and capabilities of Pakistan security forces in the war against terror. It was agreed that both sides will work out the modalities for the release of $ 200 million to Pakistan on immediate basis. The Prime Minister informed Ambassador Holbrook that the Cabinet Committee formed by him was looking into the issue of issuance of visa to the US government officials and he has directed them to resolve this issue on immediate basis.The Prime Minister welcomed the resumption of bilateral strategic dialogue with the US, first session of which was scheduled to be held later today. He stated that Pakistan wished to engage more closely and regularly with the US on the bilateral political track to effectively remove the misperception and misgivings between the two countries.Ambassador Holbrook paid tributes to Prime Ministers leadership in building consensus and taking all stakeholders in the country on board on all important national issues. He also commended Prime Minister for his continuing endeavours to build trust between both countries to strengthen the bilateral ties and broadening of the US economic support to Pakistan to help the countrys economy that has suffered being the frontline state on war against terrorism. The meeting was attended by Minister for Defence, Ch. Ahmad Mukhtar; Minister for Finance, Shaukat Fayyaz Tarin, Minister for Interior, Senator Rehman Malik, Senator Sughra Imam, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Ms. Nargis Sethi and Secretary Foreign Affairs, Salman Bashir. US Ambassador in Pakistan Ms. Anne W. Patterson was also present in the meeting.
