Spokesperson for the visiting Parliamentary delegation on Thursday told the US Chamber of Commerce that Pakistan was interested in an early decision on entering into free trade agreement with the United States, which would benefit Pakistan.
"We press US to enter into FTA," Kashmala Tariq, MNA, told the Chamber at a meeting. Minister of State for Commerce Hamid Yar Hiraj, sources said, left for Hong Kong early Thursday, as he was required in connection with the WTO conference. Basically, a business forum, she said the delegation undertook the visit to create awareness about earthquake devastation and relief efforts, as well.
Later, at a briefing at the Pakistan Embassy, Mrs Kashmala, who is acting as spokesperson for the delegation, said "national interest required that we strive for consolidating economy."
About talks on FTA, she told newsmen that the US side says Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) should be signed first, while our view as representatives of the people is that FTA may get precedence over BIT. She said while there could be bureaucratic and technical things in the way, but these may be overcome expeditiously, to serve the interest of Pakistan.
More market access was necessary, she said adding that the matter had been taken up with senior US officials, USTR and Congressmen, during the meetings.
The brief agenda before the delegation was trade promotion, including FTA, increased market access for Pakistani goods and services, more investments, decrease in tariffs, and halting of travel advisory.
On the occasion, Senator Fouzia Fakhar-uz-Zaman Khan, Makhdumzada Basit Sultan, MNA, and Jawad Asghar, businessman, were also present.
She said the trickle down effect of improved national economy means betterment of the people.
On the last day of the three-day visit, the delegation held a meeting with the scholars of the Woodrow Wilson Center; and held a meeting with Congressman Dan Burton, co-chair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus. About intellectual property rights, she said Pakistan had tried to alleviate the complaints of the United States, but added, it must be kept in mind that a poor economy could not be expected to establish lofty principles. She referred to India, which had been defending its view on IPR in respect of pharmaceuticals.
To a question on earthquake relief, the spokesperson said the whole nation was united, and in generous co-operation with the international community everything possible was being done to render relief and rehabilitation of the sufferers. She, however, regretted that the media in the west has discontinued stress on the magnitude of the tragedy, and unless tsunami, the mention of it is missing from time and space of the electronic and print media. "The matter deserves to be sensitised, keeping in mind the enormity of the tragedy."
The spokesperson said it was heartening to note that the UN and the international community had made generous pledges for extending monetary assistance to Pakistan to rebuild and rehabilitate the quake-hit area.
Mrs Kashmala disclosed that the US-Pakistan Business Council has announced to hold a Pakistan earthquake relief day on January 1, in Washington DC. She hoped the Council would draw attention of Americans and Pakistani American community, and urged the community to reach out the mainstream US population, which was supportive to Pakistan and its cause.