Pakistan in Media

NEW YORK: President Asif Ali Zardari called upon the US to fast track reimbursement of outstanding Coalition Support Fund of $1.6 billion and early realization of the Tokyo pledges to ensure economic stability of Pakistan.

The President said this while talking to the US President Special Envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke, who called on him here Tuesday afternoon and discussed a wide range of issues concerning the two countries.

Briefing the media persons after the meeting, spokesman to the President former Senator Farhatullah Babar said that President Zardari also emphasized the fast tracking of the enactment of the Biden-Lugar Bill as well as the Reconstruction Opportunity Zones Bill.

The President said that these measures were necessary to expedite the country’s development program and rebuild the infrastructure as peace dividend to the people gravely affected by the huge damage caused to infrastructure due to fight against militancy.

The spokesman further said the President also impressed upon the US interlocutor the need for channeling assistance through existing institutions and budgetary mechanism which will strengthen their capacity on the one hand and also avoid overlap and duplication on the other.

Farhatullah Babar quoted the president as saying that Pakistan needed increased market access to the US markets and called upon the US to create special category for conflict- affected countries under its GSP plus program in addition to RoZs.

The President also made out a case for fast tracking the delivery of counter insurgency technology and equipment and investment in education sector being vital for challenging and changing the militant mindset.
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