Prime Minister Gilani says US must prioritise disbursement of economic assistance

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday asked the US to assist Pakistan in energy technologies to help the country overcome its energy crisis, hoping that the recently concluded Pak-US strategic dialogue would help translate bilateral relationship between the two countries into a long-term partnership based on respect and trust.

Talking to a US delegation led by Senator Thomas Carper, chairman of the US Senate homeland security and government affairs committee, Zardari said the increased level of congressional engagement was encouraging for strengthening bilateral relations and people-to-people contacts between the two nations.

Other members of the US delegation included Thomas Carper, Senator Tom Udall, Senator Scott Brown, Senator Max Baucus, Representative Robert Wittman, Representative John Salazar and Representative Betsy Markey.

US Ambassador Anne W Patterson was also present in the meeting.

The Pakistani side included Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Secretary General to the President Salman Farooqi, Senator Sughra Imam and Farahnaz Ispahani.

The president said Pakistan appreciated Washington’s understanding of the requirements and concerns of the government and the people of Pakistan in the recently held Pak-US strategic dialogue. Zardari called for chalking out a comprehensive mechanism to take the strategic dialogue forward in a constructive and productive manner for deeper engagement in all identified and agreed tracks. The president appreciated the US decision of the withdrawal of body screening of Pakistani travellers at US airports, saying it was a “good step in the right direction”.

Priority: Later, the US delegates also met Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

Gilani said the US must priorities disbursement of its economic assistance by undertaking high visibility projects in the power generation, vocational training, higher institutions of learning, health, agriculture and water conservation sectors.

The prime minister said despite unmatched and unparalleled human and material sacrifices in the war against terror, Pakistan remained steadfast for eradication of this menace from its soil. He said the people of Pakistan and all political stakeholders are with the government, but the support could dilute if areas cleared from militants were not rebuild. app