A US congressional delegation comprising Senator Robert Corker, Senator Bernard Sanders, Senator Christopher Coons and Senator Joseph Manchin called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Saturday. US Ambassador in Islamabad Cameron Munter was also present along with other officials.
Pak side included M Salman Faruqui, Secretary General, Hina Rabbani Khar, MOS for Foreign Affairs, Senator Syeda Sughra Imam, MNA Farahnaz Ispahani, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar. Matters relating to Pak-US bilateral relations, war against militancy, ROZs and security situation in the region were discussed during the meeting.
The President highlighted the economic situation of Pakistan and emphasised the need for greater international support by way of facilitating trade at this critical time. "We have prioritised trade, not aid, to over come our financial difficulties, the President said."
"We need preferential market access to support our economy from the adverse impacts of ongoing struggle against militancy and to rehabilitate and reconstruct damaged infrastructure due to devastating floods," urging the visiting delegation to use their influence to secure for Pakistan enhanced market access and more trade.
He said that geo-strategic location of Pakistan provides us an un-parallel advantage of transit trade. The delegate appreciated the country's struggle against militancy and assured US continued support in this regard to the people and the Government of Pakistan.
The President also reiterated his call for expediting passage of ROZs legislation to create economic opportunities for the people who are worst hit due to scourge of militancy. Talking about regional situation, the President said that a stable, peaceful and prosperous region was what the country has always longed and worked for.
In reply to a question about Pak-India talk, Salman Bashir, Foreign Secretary, said that the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries recently had a fruitful meeting and the two sides had agreed to resume full spectrum of dialogue. The first meeting will be scheduled in New Delhi next month, he said. They also stressed the need for long-term and multifaceted relations between Pakistan and the US to further consolidate existing mutual relations and co-operation.-PR
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