Pak-US strategic dialogue successful: PM
ISLAMABAD: Expressing satisfaction over Pakistan-US strategic dialogue, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said on Monday that Pakistan-US strategic dialogue indicated that the two countries were enjoying cordial relationship, which would further strengthen with the passage of time.
He appreciated the US’s support to the democratic government and the assistance in various sectors, especially energy and infrastructure development.
The Premier expressed these views in a meeting with Ambassador of Pakistan to the US, Hussain Haqqani, who called on him here at PM Secretariat on Monday.
Prime Minister Gilani expressed satisfaction over the conclusion of the fifth Round of Strategic Dialogue and declared these productive, which would have far-reaching and positive results.
He specially mentioned the understanding between the two countries on the negotiation for acquisition of civil nuclear technology and said that it would help resolve the energy shortage faced by the country.
He added that the US eagerness to provide wide access to the Pakistani products to the American markets would also go a long way in translating the relationship into a long-term partnership.
The Prime Minister asked the Ambassador to develop closer coordination with the American leadership so that there might be complete harmony between the two countries regarding any matter.
He further asked him to facilitate the Pakistani community living in the US so as to help resolve their difficulties and assist them to focus on their jobs and businesses. Hussain Haqqani briefed the Prime Minister about the fifth Round of Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue.
He informed that the US has agreed to further enhance its assistance to Pakistan to support programmes and projects in the priority areas of energy, food security and social sector development.
He apprised that the US has announced financial assistance for 18 projects in the energy sector in different parts of the country.
Gilani arrives in Spain
MADRID: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani arrived here on Tuesday on a two-day official visit with an objective of expanding ties in all spheres and seeking greater market access for Pakistani products in the European market.
This is Prime Minister Gilani”s first visit to Spain and would focus on raising the existing bilateral trade of around US 600 million to a potentially 2 billion US dollars over the next two years. Spain is the fifth largest European economy and sixth biggest investor in developed world accounting 2 per cent of the world trade.
Gilani”s visit has assumed greater significance as Spain currently has the rotating six-month presidency of the 27-member European Union.
The prime minister will be leaving for Brussels on June 2 to attend the second Pak-EU summit.
The prime minister in talks with the Spanish leaders will apprise them about the role the democratic government was playing to strengthen the economy while at the same time serving as a front line state in the war against terror.
Spain, being part of the Nato forces fully acknowledges Pakistan”s front line role and is keen to develop cooperation with Pakistan in the areas of defence and security.
Gilani is scheduled to have an audience with the King of Spain King Juan Carlos I, besides meeting Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who will also host a working lunch for him.
Gilani will meet with President of Senate Francisco Javier Rojo Garcia before attending a reception by the Confederation of Employers and Industries of Spain (CEOE).
PM in view of Spain”s renewed interest in the Asian market would discuss ways for further expansion in bilateral trade.
Spain has been supportive of Pakistan”s initiative to negotiate a free trade agreement with the EU.
Major exports from Pakistan to Spain are textiles (fabric, knitwear, made ups including garments and home textiles), which constitute about 55 percent of our total exports to Spain. These are followed by leather and its products, ethanol, molasses, sports goods, rice, footwear and carpets.
Main imports from Spain in Pakistan include textile and construction machinery, chemicals and products, ceramics, plastic materials, iron and steel, malt products and fruit conserves and pharmaceutical products.
Pakistan and Spain have traditionally enjoyed close and cordial relations characterized by shared perceptions on major global and regional issues.
The earlier high-level bilateral visits from Pakistan included those of Prime Minister Suhrawardy in 1956 and Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in 1994.
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif paid a one-day visit in 1992 for EXPO Sevilla while former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz visited Spain to co-chair the UN High Level Panel on System-wide Coherence in 2006, and during the visit also held a bilateral meeting with the Spanish Prime Minister.
The visit by former President Pervez Musharraf to Spain in April 2007 was the first ever visit by a Head of State of Pakistan and two MoUs on cooperation in the fields of tourism, culture, education and science and technology were signed. No visit of head of state, or government level to Pakistan has so far taken place from Spain.
There are around 53,000 Pakistanis with legal status in Spain and large majority are engaged as skilled and unskilled workers in agriculture, construction and housing sectors.
Situated in south-western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and Pyrenees Mountains, and south-western part of France, Spain has a population of 40 million with almost 77 per cent living in urban areas.
Spain”s mixed capitalist economy is the 12th largest in the world, and its per capita income roughly matches that of Germany and France.
Prime Minister Gilani is scheduled to leave for Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the administrative centre of the European Union on Wednesday.
PM for strengthening democratic institutions
LAHORE: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that forming coalition government is a growing practice across the globe but it requires strengthening the culture of reconciliation and tolerance in the world.
He was talking to former UK-MP,Ch Sarwar at Prime Minister’s House here on Monday.
During the meeting Prime Minister Gilani congratulated Ch Sarwar on the election of his son and others, including Saeeda Warsi, of Pakistani origin who got elected as Member of UK Parliament.
Premier expressed his confidence that they would play their role in further strengthening Pak-UK relations in the new coalition government of United Kingdom. The Prime Minister, while quoting success of Pakistan government in the rehabilitation of IDPs of Swat, assured that all out help would be provided to the affectees of Hunza after assessment of their loss.
He said that the government is working on all options to overcome the energy shortfall in the country—including alternate energy sources and import of nuclear power equipment from Germany.
Prime Minister Gilani, during the course of meeting, stressed that the democratic institutions need to be strengthened as democracy has returned after “great sacrifices”. In this context he added that all the institutions have to play their constitutional role in a manner that the problems of common man could be addressed and resolved.
Ch. Sarwar appreciated Prime Minister’s policy of reconciliation and tolerance as well as his efforts to take along all the political parties on the national issues. He appreciated that passage of 18th Amendment, NFC award and national energy summit as landmark achievements of present government.
Govt. creating investor-friendly climate: PM
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Tuesday said the government is committed to creating an investor friendly climate in the country and policies are being formulated to move from comparative advantage to competitive advantage in the global market.
The government is ensuring the delivery of state-of-the-art professional and facilitation services for local and international investors in a bid to encourage them to invest in Pakistan, he added.
The prime minister expressed these views while chairing the 4th BOI Board Meeting here at the Prime Minsiter House on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Gilani said that phenomena of globalization and regional economic integration have created vast space for a cut-throat competition amongst countries.
“Investment is a key development driver in today’s world and countries have opened their doors and policies to attract investments. Therefore, it is imperative that we also reorient our investment policies to attract the international investors,” he added.
The prime minister said that predictable business environment is a prerequisite to attract investment.
He added that countries worldwide are employing instruments of Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) to gain investors’ confidence as these legally binding agreements establish the terms and conditions for private investment.
The prime minister said that investment is not only an economic issue but also an agent of change in social terms, as it creates social opportunities through economic functions.
The government’s investment policies aim at accelerating economic growth to achieve the objectives of food and shelter, he added.
The premier said that BOI was associated with the Prime Minister Secretariat to turn it into a dynamic organization and mainstream the decision-making, through one-window investment operations to investors.
Minimum wage set at Rs7000 in Labour Policy 2010
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday announced a minimum Rs 7000 salary for laborers and a policy that aims at transforming the lives of working class for a better future.
Addressing a large gathering here at the Convention Centre Prime Minister Gilani apprised the large gathering of workers from across the country about the features of the new labour policy that was given an approval at a special cabinet meeting convened earlier in the day.
He said the Cabinet approved the Labour Policy 2010 that was reflective of the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and was an attempt to implement it practically. He said the policy would benefit around 50 million labours who were playing a key role in the progress and development of the country.
Prime Minister Gilani said the credit goes to President Asif Ali Zardari for pursuing the labour friendly policies.
Gilani quoted a hadith of Holy Prophet (Peace be upon Him) to pay a labour his wages before sweat dries and said it was the endeavour of his government to follow it in letter and spirit.
Gilani informed the gathering about the measures and said trilateral monitoring committees would be set up at provincial and federal level to improve working, resolve problems and increase efficiency of the labours.
He assured that contract employees would be regularised in government departments. He also announced salaries will be made through banks, retired registered workers will get medical facilities, raise in pensions would be in accordance to increase in government pensions, technical education for children, manpower information centres in cities, training of trainers, para-medical staff to get specialised training, pensionable age limit under the old-age benefit lowered to 50, smart card through Nadra so that registered workers get all facilities, Rs 15,000 for out of job workers and legal support, free medical treatment for labours.
He said the workers have been given the right to have Unions and labour bodies to protect their rights. Gilani was appreciative of all the political parties and the provincial governments for their input and endorsing the new labour policy.
Economy Getting Stabilized, Claims Prime Minister Gilani
Prime Minister Gilani has claimed that the state economy is getting stable, which has resulted into return of the investors’ trust.
The PM stated these views during the Economic Coordination Council (ECC) meeting, which was held in Islamabad today.
Sources said the meeting deliberated upon the imposition of regularity duty on chemical products, Port Qasim Navigation Channel’s extension and establishment of polythene plant. It is the first ECC meeting after the resignation of former finance minister Shaukat Tarin.
Addressing the meeting, the PM said that the implementation of the cabinet decision would be ensured, adding that all the decisions would be taken in country’s larger interests. He assured that significant uplift goals would be achieved within two years, adding that the reserves are at satisfactory level.
Pakistan, Britain Vow to Fight Terror
December 3, 2009 by Trend PK
Filed under Breaking News
Pakistan News: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Thursday he did not think al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan.
“I doubt the information which you are giving is correct because I don’t think Osama bin Laden is in Pakistan”, Gilani said when asked about efforts to track down the al Qaeda leader.
Gilani was speaking at a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Prime Minister Gilani said that he was thankful to Britain for helping Pakistan. He told that he held wide-ranging talks with particular focus on regional security and ways to wipe out terrorism and extremism with his British counterpart. Friends of Pakistan session also came under discussion. PM Gilani said that Brown praised role of Pakistani forces. He said that Pakistani forces were sacrificing their lives, adding that Uzbek and Chechen terrorist were also present in Pakistan.
British PM on this occasion announced to enhance Pakistan’s capacity to fight against terrorist saying it had affected the most by terrorism. He vowed to continue supporting Pakistan. He said that international community praised Pakistan’s efforts against terrorism. British PM maintained that entire world including Britain had affected by terrorism. He reiterated to send more troops to Afghanistan. “Pakistani forces sacrificed their lives in war against terrorism and achieved important successes in tribal areas,” he added.
PM Brown said Pakistan is a friend country and UK would help it by every possible mean. “We stand by Pakistan in war against terrorism and its fighting effectively against terrorists,” he said. British PM also announced 50 million pound additional aid for Pakistan.
Pakistan, Britain Vow to Fight Terror was first posted on December 3, 2009 at 3:49 pm.
