Zardari wants preferential treatment for Pakistan

Reiterating his call for preferential treatment and greater market access for Pakistani products, President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday said “it is time for international community to think of ways to compensate the countries most adversely impacted by the war on terror by making some allowance to them for market access.”
Addressing a gathering at APTMA’s annual dinner held at Aiwan-e-Sadr, the president said the ongoing war against militancy had inflicted huge damage to Pakistan’s economy. On account of Pakistan’s sacrifices and suffering while fighting on behalf of the international community in the war against terror, Pakistan is entitled to preferential treatment and greater market access, the president added.
Zardari said that the tremendous cost of the war against terror had put a great stress on Pakistan’s economy. He said that the huge economic cost of the war had compelled the government to curtail its Public Sector Development Programme, leading towards putting a great pressure on the business community by increasing their input costs and adversely impacting their competitiveness. The president welcomed international to Pakistan, but added that trade was more sustainable, as it helps integrate people and cultures across borders.