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Pakistan has a huge potential to increase multi-billion dollars trade with European countries by exploiting General System of Preference (GSP Plus) facility for enhancing exports volume.
Member of European Parliament Afzal Khan who is of Pakistani origin has said this while talking to APP about Pakistan-EU economic relations. Afzal Khan who is also the first Muslim Vice Chairman of Security and Defence Committee of the EU Parliament currently in Islamabad on a week long visit to Pakistan held meetings with many Ministers and Advisors including Engineer Khurram Dastgir, Zahid Hamid, Lieutenant General Nasir Janjua (Retd), Sartaj Aziz and Ashtar Ausaf Ali besides others.
Talking about his visit and meetings with Minister's and Advisors, he said, "Basically, I am of Pakistani origin and visiting to see it closely for improving bilateral relations between Pakistan and European countries". Responding to a question about trade and investment opportunities in Pakistan, he said that "Pakistan should continue to improve security situation as stability is a main key to open more trade opportunities for the country".
"I am glade to visit Pakistan at this stage when the security situation is improving due to the successful operation against terrorists and economic activities are gaining with the efforts of the government, he said. Appreciating role of the government and Pakistan Army in eliminating terrorism, Afzal Khan said that European Countries shared the grief with Pakistan over the huge human and financial loss. Regarding support of EU countries to Pakistan, he said that entire EU countries were fully aware of the human and financial loss of Pakistan due to terrorism in the region and wanted to support it properly.
Promising to plead the case of Pakistan in the European Parliament, he said, "Pakistan has paid a heavy price of fighting terrorism and I will plead the case of Pakistan in the European Parliament for more and stronger cooperation by the EU countries".
Talking about main purpose of his visit to Pakistan, he said, "first of all Pakistan is my native country and my top priority is making efforts for developing close relationship between Pakistan and European countries". Responding to a question about economy of Pakistan, he said, "I am seeing very bright economic future of Pakistan".
When asked about EU cooperation with Pakistan in different areas, he said Pakistan was enjoying an important strategic location and could play a role as gateway for the entire Middle East and Africa.
Regarding China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Afzal Khan said this was a unique project for Pakistan having world-wide importance and would open many economic windows for the country even for the entire region besides Pakistan and China. Pakistan and China would enjoy real benefits of the CPEC project, might not right now but it would be one of the main trade routes of the world with a multi-billion trade volume with the passage of time, he predicted. CPEC would provide a unique and unmatchable opening to Pakistan for bringing economic revolution particularly in the country and generally in region, he said.
Responding to a question about recently announced 34 countries Saudi alliance, he said, "Frankly speaking purpose of this alliance is not so clear. We need to ensure that this does not create a divide between Muslim countries". Pakistan should play an important role in bringing Saudi Arabia and Iran together, he suggested.
Regarding Afghanistan he said the entire world see the role of Pakistan in bringing peace in Afghanistan vital and asked leadership of both the countries for having a close cooperation with each other for bring peace and stability in the region.
To a question about recent wave of terrorism especially the France tragedy in which more than a hundred people were killed, he said the European Parliament had taken the recent wave of terrorism in Europe very serious and governments of all EU countries were committed for permanent elimination of terrorism.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2015

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