A US delegation headed by David Lipton, Senior Director for International Economics of the US National Security Council, called on President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday and discussed matters regarding Pak-US relations, fight against militancy, economic situation and US assistance to Pakistan.
The meeting held at Aiwan-e-Sadr was also attended by Anne W Patterson, US Ambassador, Ambassador Robin Raphel, Assistant Co-ordinator for Pakistan and other US officials. President Zardari emphasised the need to expedite Reconstruction Opportunity Zones legislation in order to give people hope for the better through creation of job and other economic opportunities.
He asked the delegation to play its role in this regard as this would be a dividend for inhabitants of war affected areas. The President also called upon the US to assist Pakistan in energy technologies to help the country overcome its energy crisis that was adversely affecting the economy already ravaged by the war against militants.
The President said Pakistan looks for assistance to its partners, especially the US, in stabilising its economy through investment promotion, overcoming the energy crisis, facilitation in getting market access, capacity building of civilian institutions and securing the needed investment in education and social sector as measures for long term fight against the militant mindset.
The President said Pakistan welcomes US understanding of Pak requirements during recently concluded Pak-US strategic dialogue. He expressed the hope that the shared goal of establishing long-term, multidimensional and sustained partnership between the two countries would be further taken forward to strengthen the bilateral relations and people-to-people contacts between the two countries.
The President called for working out a comprehensive mechanism to take the strategic dialogue forward in a result oriented, constructive and productive manner for deeper engagement in different sectors. He hoped that the process of institutional connect will be enduring and help bridge the trust deficit of the past. The US delegation appreciated the struggle of Pakistan government not only in its fight against militancy, but also to stabilise its economy.
David Lipton said that US appreciates the economic constraints of war ravaged economy of Pakistan and is committed to help out Pakistan in every possible manner. The Pakistani side included Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Minister for Water and Power, M Salman Faruqui, Secretary General to the President, Dr Hafeez Sheikh, Finance Advisor, Senator Syeda Sughra Imam, Salman Bashir, Foreign Secretary and other senior officials.
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