Pakistan mulling will raise the issue of Indian intelligence agency RAW's involvement in different nefarious activities at upcoming session of UN General Assembly. Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said this in the National Assembly on Friday while responding to a question asked by PTI member Munaza Hassan. "The prime minister will take up the issue of Indian involvement in different nefarious acts in Pakistan at the UN General Assembly meeting," he said.
Aziz said that Pakistan is raising the issue of RAW's involvement in different parts of Pakistan during the bilateral meetings at different levels. "Media is also being utilised to expose Indian involvement in the terrorist activities in Pakistan," he said. During a foreign secretary-level talks held on March 3 this year in Islamabad, the foreign secretary had raised the issue with his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar, he informed the house.
Regarding the Gurdaspur attack, he said the government has rebuffed the Indian allegations about Pakistan's involvement in the attack. "A detailed response to the issue has been released to the media ... it is unfortunate that India has been levelling baseless allegations against Pakistan," he said. He said it has also been made clear that Pakistan has the capability to give a befitting reply in case of any threat from the Indian side.
Aziz also informed the house that 2,309 Pakistanis have been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia while the cases of 1,085 prisoners have been followed up by the mission during the year 2014-15. He said that some jails in Saudi Arabia are overcrowded and Pakistan has taken up the issue with the Saudi government. On behalf of Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan, Minister of State for Interior Baleeghur Rehman answered questions in the Lower House.
Replying to a question, Rehman said the share of Pakistani export to the United Arab Emirates amounted to US $1.7 million out of total of US $25.1 million which translates into 6.8 percent. He said the UAE has banned export of poultry products from Pakistan due to bird flue virus and the government is now struggling to convince the UAE officials to vacate the ban. "Saudi Arabia has lifted ban on export of poultry products from Pakistan and we hope the UAE will do too soon," he said.
He said the government is about to launch a new trade policy and all issues related to export of different goods to different countries would be taken care of. "Trade Development Authority of Pakistan has been organising exhibitions to promote exports in the sectors of leather, surgical equipments, seafood, textile and hosiery products and sports goods," he said.
Replying to another question, he said that Ministry of Commerce has been working through Pakistan embassies and consulates in 37 countries through 55 trade officers. "The efforts have helped increase Pakistan's exports to Europe up to 1.5 billion dollars," he said, adding that the TDAP in co-ordination with relevant consulates and trade officers ensured participation of Pakistani exporters in 37 exhibitions in 2013-14 and 38 in 2014-15 across the globe.