Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman said on Saturday development and democratic dividend would be the main focus of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani's discussions with the US leadership.
"This is very important visit, as it is after many years that a democratically elected Prime Minister of Pakistan is visiting the United States", Sherry told newsmen at the Chaklala airbase. The Information Minister, who is accompanying the Prime Minister on his US visit, said the visit would help further strengthen the existing broad-based and multi-pronged bilateral co-operation and ties.
She said the Prime Minister would meet President George W. Bush, Vice-President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Defence Robert Gates and senior members of the administration.
Gilani will also address investors' round table on Pakistan's power sector being organised with the World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC). The Information Minister said the Prime Minister would brief the US President about the government's comprehensive strategy to deal with the issue of terrorism and extremism as well as the situation in tribal areas.
She said the new strategy, which had been conceived and finalised in consultation with the coalition partners, was aimed at tackling the issue through dialogue and development. Sherry said the discussions with the US administration would also cover the prospects and the US assistance for development of tribal areas, with focus on the creation of Reconstruction Opportunities Zones (ROZs) there.
She said Pakistan would stress the need for early implementation and establishment of the proposed ROZs in tribal areas to accelerate the pace of economic activities in the region. She said the wide-ranging talks with the US leadership would also include the issue of economic assistance, as there was a need to move beyond the defence co-operation to non-military aid.
The Minister said the United States was working on a bill to provide economic assistance worth 7.5 billion dollars, adding, Pakistan side would hold talks with the United States on how to take the process forward.
Comments
Comments are closed.