ISLAMABAD – President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday urged British Cabinet Minister Baroness Sayeeda Warsi to use her influence for setting up opportunity zones in the conflict-hit areas and pleading Pakistan’s case for enhanced and preferential trade access to the markets of European Union countries for put the country’s economy back on track.
Talking to Warsi, who called on him at the President’s House, Zardari said it would help addressing the issues of poverty and unemployment in the tribal areas, and thereby, wining the battle of hearts and minds. He said Pakistan was not only involved in its own battle against extremism, but it was also fighting for a cause that concerned the international community, adding that militancy and terrorism were the common enemy and cooperation between the two countries must continue to fight the war.
While discussing Pak-UK relations, the president said the two countries must work closely to further strengthen their relationship, especially in economic sphere, for the mutual benefit, adding that there was a need to further streamline the existing cooperation in cultural and educational development to promote understanding and bringing the people of the two countries further closer.
Warsi appreciated the government’s efforts against militancy and reiterated continued British support to the democratic dispensation in Pakistan. She said the United Kingdom (UK) would continue to support Pakistan in all possible manners to overcome challenges being faced by the democratic government.
