WASHINGTON: Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh discussed ways to strengthen economic cooperation with US and Afghan officials on sidelines of the IMF-World Bank meeting.
In a meeting with Mathew J Spence, Special Assistant to the US President and Senior Director for International Economics, National Security Council, the two officials discussed and reviewed bilateral economic cooperation.
According to officials, Pakistan's economic performance of last year including strong external sector growth like increase in exports and remittances, aggressive austerity drive, challenges in the power sector, continuing reforms,trade and regional economic integration also came under discussion at the meeting.
Dr Shaikh also discussed ways to further enhance trade and economic relations with his Afghan counterpart Dr Omar Zakhilwal.
The two finance ministers agreed that the two-way trade, which has grown substantially in recent years, could be doubled.
Zakhilwal expressed his country's appreciation for Pakistan's assistance in infrastructure projects including construction of a road from Torkham to Jalalabad.
The Afghan official also thanked Dr Shaikh for his efforts to promote trade ,particularly the transit trade agreement and two sides agreed that the accord reprsented an important step towards promotion of trade and regional integration.
The two finance leaders also discussed Joint Pakistan-Afghanisan Commission that meets on October 12-13. It was decided that the two countries would encourage their private sectors to explore and expand business opportunities.
The Afghan sied will give a presentation to Pakistani investors on mining oppourtinities existing in Afghanistan at the Joint Ministerial Commission meeting.
Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011
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