The National Assembly was informed Wednesday that Pakistan has undertaken extensive diplomatic efforts to win support within the Nuclear Suppliers Group for its membership.
Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch told the House during question hour that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has sent letters to his counterparts in all NSG countries.
He said Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi made phone calls to their counterparts in NSG countries.
Abdul Qadir Baloch said Pakistan’s strong multi-pronged lobbying efforts have paid off. He said our arguments for criteria-based approach and the negative impact of any India specific resumption on the strategic stability in South Asia and the future of non-proliferation regime have found resonance among several NSG countries.
The minister said the US is giving importance to India to counter China. However, he said the US has assured Islamabad that it is not doing so at the cost of Pakistan.
Parliamentary Secretary for Inter-Provincial Coordination Muhammad Shafqat Hayat Khan told the House that on the direction of the prime minister the government is taking measures to resolve problems of Pakistani labourers in Saudi Arabia.
He said Pakistani Ambassador in Riyadh is vigorously pursuing the matter with Saudi authorities and management of the companies concerned in this regard. He pointed out that facilitation centres have also been set up for them and efforts are underway for their settlement in Saudi Arabia or their safe return home.
Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid on behalf of Commerce Minister informed the House that Pakistan and China are negotiating the second phase of Pak-China Free Trade Agreement. He said Pakistan has shared its concerns regarding the adverse impact of cheap imports from China on the local industry. He said both sides are working to find an amicable solution which adequately addresses the genuine concerns of both the countries.
To a question, the minister expressed the hope that transit, bilateral and regional trade under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will increase in future which will have a positive impact on Pakistan’s economy.
Answering a question, Zahid Hamid said that Pakistan’s exports to the UK have increased by about forty percent since 2013. He said as UK negotiates its withdrawal from EU, GSP Plus facility in the UK is likely to remain available for Pakistani exporters for another two years. He pointed out that the UK is a leading trade partner of Pakistan and Pak-UK bilateral trade stood at 2.06 billion euros in 2015. He said Pakistan is also in the process of negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with the UK to enhance bilaterally.
