WASHINGTON: Minister for Planning, Development & Reform Prof. Ahsan Iqbal has said that putting Pakistan on a list of countries whose citizens have been temporarily barred from visiting the United States will be counterproductive.
Addressing an event hosted by ‘The United States Institute of Peace’ (USIP) Prof. Ahsan Iqbal said that he did not notice any intention to place Pakistan on the list of banned states but “if it were to happen, it would be counterproductive”.
Pakistan, he said, was an important country with a large middle-class spread across the globe and the Pakistan diaspora was making a major contribution to global development. “Singling them out like this would be a mistake,” said the minister while pointing out that only a tiny fraction of the estimated 1.6 billion Muslims around the world was involved in terrorist activities.
“The overwhelming majority of Muslims lives peacefully and pursues its goals like other religious groups and nations,” he said.
Moreover, Ahsan Iqbal has said that a vibrant economic environment in Pakistan should serve as a fillip for the US companies to view it as an opportunity.
Prof. Ahsan Iqbal highlighted that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had emerged in the context of robust economic growth taking place in the larger Asian region as well as immense potential for growth and connectivity in South and Central Asia.
Iqbal, met several US officials and lawmakers during his five-day stay in Washington.
‘These projects have stimulated overall economic growth in Pakistan and Pakistan’s steel, cement, and construction sectors were booming’ he asserted.
The legislator informed the audience that as a result of robust investment in Energy sector, Pakistan was expected to add a remarkable 10,000 MW to the national grid.
Responding to various questions, Ahsan Iqbal outlined Pakistan’s vision for a peaceful and prosperous neighbourhood and a desire for inclusive in development.
He said that Pakistan’s economic turnaround had been acknowledged positively by credit rating agencies and had already begun to invite significant investment.
The event was attended by scholars, members of Pakistani-American community and representatives of the media.
