Consul General of the Unites States, Brian Heath, said here on Monday that the US has been assisting Pakistan in overcoming its energy crisis on priority. Moreover, the US was also working on various projects to renovate Pakistan's existing power stations for increasing their power generating capacity, he added.
Speaking at a meeting of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), he said that the severe energy crisis in Pakistan was affecting Generalised System of Preference (GSP) plus and its growth rate. He said that the US, under its assistance programme, was also helping Pakistan to build its education sector so that maximum number of children could have access to education.
Expressing satisfaction over Pakistan's economic progress, he said energy and education played an important role in creating conducive environment for business as employees without education cannot be productive and efficient, while factories cannot be run without electricity.
Referring to the US assistance programme for Pakistan, he said that it was aimed at helping the country to become a stable, prosperous and democratic nation. "You cannot have a stable nation without democracy and prosperity," he remarked. Brian Heath said that the USAID has been assisting Pakistan in building its infrastructure, particularly a network of roads, to ensure smooth flow of goods carrier across the country as well as to facilitate cross-border trade. Voicing his concern over terrorists and extremists' attacks in Karachi and elsewhere in Pakistan, he said such heinous crimes have been affecting investors' confidence.
KCCI former president Anjum Nisar sought United States help in resolving the country's pressing issues relating to law and order, energy crisis and water scarcity. Expressing his concern over six percent decline in textile export, he asked the US authorities to help Pakistan in addressing this issue. KCCI President Amir Abdullah Zaki said that that Pakistan's vital role in combating terrorism since the occurrence of tragic incident of 9/11 has proved that the country was a true ally of the US.
He deplored that although Pakistan had immensely suffered in terms of human and material losses in the war against terrorism, its contribution has not been recognised in terms of increased economic co-operation between Pakistan and the US. He said Pakistan was keen in expanding its trade with the US and in developing education, scientific research and infrastructure sectors. He said that the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between the US and Pakistan which was signed in 2009 was required to be implemented in letter and spirit.
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