Renowned economist and former federal minister Dr Slaman Shah has said that both Pakistan and the United States have interests in the Kerry-Lugar Bill and Pakistan should focus on enhanced economic co-operation and economic development with the US.
In an interview with APP here on Sunday, he said that it should be assessed why this aid was coming to Pakistan. "It was because of Pakistan's strategic location and importance in the region and the world," he explained. However, he said the trust deficit between the two countries should be removed over the bill.
"No foreign assistance is acceptable to the people of Pakistan which undermines its sovereignty," he added. He said that there had always been behind-the-scene conditions in foreign aid but the Kerry-Lugar Bill was being widely criticised in the country because we had more independent media to mould public opinion. "There have been some strings attached to the bill which are not acceptable to the people of Pakistan. They should be removed," he added.
Salman said US should not micro-manage our economy, rather it should help us develop our economy and social sector through financial assistance. He said that the US aid under the Kerry-Lugar bill would boost economic and trade activities in the country and create a large number of job opportunities which would also help in overcoming the problems of unemployment and poverty.
Regarding transparency in social development projects, he said the US should not interfere in Pakistan government's economic policies but help evolve a mechanism which eliminates corruption and ensures transparency in the projects, according to international standards.
He said assistance from US and other countries should be welcomed and overall relations with America should be cordial, particularly trade ties between the two countries. He said that the US should fully support social sector development policies of the Pakistan government so that the people of Pakistan could take maximum benefit from them.
Shah said that no country should be allowed to interfere in Pakistan's economic policies, rather the institutions of the country should frame their own policies to launch development projects aimed at the welfare of the people. He said that objective of US aid should be to provide maximum relief to the people of Pakistan.
Terrorism and extremism are also serious challenges to the country. Peace in Pakistan is linked to its prosperity and economic self-reliance which should be the ultimate objective of the country," he added.
He said the US could not make any considerable achievement in Afghanistan during the last eight years despite spending billions of dollars annually and a large number of US and Nato troops. "India and other countries are also helping the US for peace in Afghanistan, but the US needs Pakistan the most if it wants to successfully pull out of the country. So, Pakistan's stability and economy was vital for protection of US interests in the region. Peace is also a prerequisite for access to Central Asian States," he added.