President for setting up of economic diplomacy wing

President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday asked the government to vigorously pursue the pledges made by the international community for relief and rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons and ensure that the assistance pledged is translated into reality at the earliest. He said this during a briefing in the Presidency today to review the follow up progress of the two separate meetings of Donors and the Friends of Democratic Pakistan in Tokyo in April last. Briefing the media about the meeting Spokesperson to the President former Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the President also advised that Economic Diplomacy Wing be set up in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headed by a senior officer for furthering economic interests of the country as an essential component of the foreign policy. The President said that Economic Diplomacy Task Group including representatives from the private sector may also be established for promoting economic dimensions of the foreign policy. The President said that the FoDP Secretariat could become part of the Economic Diplomacy Wing of the Foreign Office. Farhatullah Babar quoted the President as saying that economic interdependence between countries not only promoted mutual economies but also created a platform for strategic relationship and for promoting peace and harmony. An oil or gas pipeline passing through different countries not only fuelled the economies but also served to bring the peoples together and promote peace and harmony, the President said. Briefing the meeting Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that after the Tokyo meeting of the FoDP several working groups had been set up on Energy, Institution Capacity building, Finance, Security and Trade. These working groups had already met recently, he said. The second meeting of the working group on Finance was scheduled early next month, the Foreign Minister informed the meeting. President Zardari said that the FoDP initiative was a long-term engagement of the international community with Pakistan to help it face the challenges including economic crisis in the wake of fight against terrorism. The President said the concept of FODP was aimed at bringing the international community together and draw their attention towards Pakistan, which was facing various challenges. The President said that thought should also be given to arrange an event around the theme of public private partnership encouraging the private sector in FoDP countries to coopt FoDP projects.