FoDP officials laud Pak strategy for meeting challenges

[LahoreEstate]

Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Hina Khar stresses need for increased market access
ISTANBUL: A meeting of senior officials of Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) appreciated Pakistan’s comprehensive strategy for overcoming challenges of security and development by building on its inherent strengths and capacities.

The meeting, co-chaired by Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and Under Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Ambassador Feridun Sinirlioglu, also acknowledged achievement of Pakistan for equitable and sustainable socio-economic development, enhancing institutional capacity, addressing the energy deficit as well as promoting trade and seeking enhanced market access.

The meeting agreed that public-private partnerships would be strengthened within the FDOP framework as a means for promoting mutually-beneficial project cooperation and realising win-win scenarios. It underscored the continued importance and relevance of FoDP as a vehicle for promoting the international community’s support and solidarity with Pakistan.

The meeting stressed the broad-based process must be Pakistan-led and Pakistan-driven and should address Pakistan’s needs and priorities and committed to translate political support into tangible programmes and projects.

Stressing the need to further streamline and improve the FoDP process, the meeting agreed to meaningfully take forward the process. Pakistan’s friends were invited to contribute substantively to the process, in addition to expanding and strengthening their cooperation bilaterally, particularly in the areas of energy and social sector programmes.

The meeting lauded Pakistan’s success in law-enforcement operations in Swat and Malakand, effectively addressing the needs of over 2 million displaced persons and appreciated the ongoing relief and rehabilitation operations. Expressing solidarity and support for the Pakistan’s efforts for reconstruction and rehabilitation, the senior officials called for fast-tracked implementation of the Malakand Pilot Project.

Earlier, the meeting received briefings by Pakistan on the Malakand Pilot Project, review of the FoDP process and charting the way forward as well as public-private partnerships. It was also briefed on business leadersí meeting held on the sidelines of the senior officialsí meeting.

Addressing the meeting, Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar underlined the importance of increased foreign investment and market access aimed at supporting the government’s strategy for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Malakand Division.

She stressed the importance of the FoDP in acknowledging Pakistan’s unparalleled sacrifices in the struggle against violence and extremism and aimed at supporting Pakistan’s national efforts for consolidating democracy, promoting good governance and achieving socio-economic development.

Representatives from Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States participated in the event. Representatives from the United Nations, the European Union, European Commission, the World Bank, the Islamic Development Bank and the Asian Development Bank also attended the meeting.

Hina sought support for the government’s strategy for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the affected areas in the Malakand Division. Briefings were given by Pakistani officials on the FoDP process and the way forward, Pakistan’s strategy on Malakand as well as public-private partnerships.

Responding to a question, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said the present meeting was not aimed at getting donations but to attract investment in short-, medium- and long-term projects for reconstruction of infrastructure in Malakand area.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=24083