Updated on
Summary
President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday appreciated US support for Pakistans security and economic development and said that Pakistan values its partnership with the United States. The President was talking to US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke who called on him at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Thursday. Ms. Anne W. Patterson and other senior US officials were also present during the meeting. The President said Pakistan needs trade and market access for its product in order to set its economy on the path of stability and prosperity. The President urged the visiting delegation that the US assistance to Pakistan be channeled through the government in order to ensure transparency and accountability in its utilization. He hoped that ROZs legislation be expedited and counter-productive labour provision be softened. The President also emphasized on early reimbursement of arrears of CSF of over 1.5 billion dollars which was rising every month.Talking about war against terror and its implications for the people of Pakistan, the President said that the Government had undertaken an elaborate program for the rehabilitation and resettlement of the displaced persons at a cost of $ 2.5 billion. It is shared responsibility of the international community to augment our efforts in this regard by providing necessary assistance, the President remarked. Farhatullah Babar said that the President underlined the need to work further for enhancing the level of trust between the people of both the countries and urged the US administration to review the new screening policy and take out from the list of countries whose citizens are proposed to be subjected to new screening regime. He also shared the concerns of the people of Pakistan about Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. He said that while Pakistan would provide her legal assistance as the case passes through subsequent stages in the judicial system, the US government may look at the possibility of her repatriation to Pakistan under the Prisoners Exchange Agreement. The President also said that Pakistan is committed to the peace and stability of the region and would welcome efforts for restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan. Ambassador Richard Haobrooke thanked the President for meeting the delegation and said that the government and the people of United States highly appreciate the sacrifices made by the people, the armed forces and other civilian law enforcing agencies of Pakistan in the war against militants.He said that US would continue to support Pakistan and would provide all possible assistance in strengthening of democracy, security, socio-economic development and welfare of the people of Pakistan. He said that the United States valued Pakistans desire for peace and stability in the region.
