Ambassador Elizabeth Jones, Principal Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, US Department of State called on Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar here on Friday. The Finance Minister informed the Ambassador about key economic reforms the government had introduced and said that major economic indicators were reflecting a marked improvement over the previous years.
He said: "we have achieved all the targets set for the last fiscal year and the economy has taken off to a new beginning of growth." The Minister informed the Ambassador about the status of IDPs from NWA and the assistance government was providing to them. He said around Rs 8 billion had been provided by the Federal Government so far. He also mentioned about co-operation on Kuram Tangi Dam which would be helpful for provision of water to the people of Waziristan. The Minister also acknowledged and appreciated the US support on the Dasu Hydropower Project at the World Bank meeting. Ambassador Jones said the United States would work with the UN and the international community to mobilise funds and aid for IDPs. She said: "we would cooperate with Pakistan towards development of the areas of operation in order to resettle the IDPs back to their lands."
She mentioned that as per the desire of both the countries education, science and technology, higher education, technical training had been added as another subject/area to the strategic dialogue between the two countries. She said that the US was looking forward to hosting International Investment Conference on Diamer Bhasha Dam in Washington DC at the time of autumn meetings of the World Bank and the IMF. She also informed the Finance Minister that in her meeting with the EU Ambassadors energy interest in Pakistan was discussed and the US would expand and co-ordinate on the EU's growing interest in energy sector investment.-PR
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