Describing the European Union of 27 members as an important forum, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Saturday appreciated its continued support for Pakistan’s contributions in the war against terror.
Generous assistance of more than 300 million Euros for the flood victims by the European Union was also instrumental for their early rehabilitation, he added. The Prime Minister was talking to Pakistan’s Ambassador to European Union Jalil Abbas Jilani, who called on him here.
The ambassador informed the prime minister that the provision of tariff concession on 75 items and subsequent provision of GSP Plus facility by the European Union will help revive Pakistan’s economy, create jobs and ensure investment in the country.
The Prime Minister directed the Ambassador to interact with the civil society and the people of policy making level to apprise the sacrifices Pakistani people have rendered in the war against terror besides suffering huge losses to the economy.
He said that it was a big success of the democratic government that the nation has taken the ownership of the war against terror and was firmly behind the government to defeat the enemy of religion, our country and our way of life.
The Prime Minister directed the Ambassador to let the people of European Union know that human rights situation in Pakistan was much better and there was no political prisoner in the country.
The Prime Minister directed the Ambassador to project the recently passed Bill by the National Assembly which had made culpable offence for the use of inhuman practices against women. The Ambassador said that he would undertake his diplomatic responsibility in the light of instructions of the Prime Minister to project the soft image of the country.
The Ambassador said that in the dawn of democracy, the European Union had upgraded its relations with Pakistan at summit level and Pakistan was one of the few countries which enjoyed this status. The EU also has significant weight in the IMF.
