ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani on Sunday asked Germany for greater market access to Pakistan, which he said would create jobs in the country confronting grave economic problems.
Talking to Dr Guido Westerwelle, Deputy Chancellor/Foreign Minister of Germany, Prime Minister Gilani underlined the need for greater market access to Pakistan, particularly in the militancy-affected areas and which Gilani said would deny extremists the opportunities to exploit the present economic difficulties of people.
According to an official statement, Gilani conveyed his appreciation to the German Government for clarifying the ‘negative comments’ attributed to Chancellor Angela Merkel about Pakistan during her recent visit to India.
Earlier, Dr Westerwelle termed Pakistan as the most important country in world’s fight against terrorism and ‘a trusted friend of Germany’. Westerwelle said Chancellor Angela Merkel held Pakistan in the high esteem and her remarks about Pakistan during a press conference in India were ‘distorted’ by the ‘interested quarters’.
Dr Westerwelle said Germany and the UK had taken the initiative for providing greater market access to Pakistan in the EU and would continue to pursue the Pakistan’s case in this regard even in the future. He said Germany appreciates Pakistani’s ‘unparallel sacrifices’ in human and economic terms in rooting out the menace of terrorism.
The PM expressed gratitude for doubling of German economic development in Pakistan and called for Germany’s consideration of financing projects to improve education, health, skilled development and income generation opportunities in the Tribal Areas.
He noted with thanks the Germany’s important role in passage of Trade Concession Package for Pakistan by the EU and continued support for its passage through WTO. He also urged Germany to use its influence with countries like India, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Peru to drop their resistance for approval of the Package by WTO in its forthcoming meeting in Geneva towards the end of this month.
PM expressed Pakistani government’s satisfaction on growing exports to Germany. He noted Germany is the 8th largest investor in Pakistan and the first country with which Germany had signed the Bilateral Investment Treaty in 1959 was Pakistan. He also called for relaxation of Garman export’s control on defence equipment required by Pakistan to enhance its capacity in fight against terrorism.
While referring to the forthcoming meeting between the Foreign Secretaries of the India and Pakistan in Bhutan and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister’s visit to India, the PM hoped India would respond positively to Pakistan’s sincere efforts for resumption of meaningful dialogue. The prime minister also send invitation to Chancellor Merkel for her official visit to Pakistan during current year.
With reference to Afghanistan, Dr Westerwelle appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role and assured the Prime Minister that Allied Forces including Germany would remain engaged in Afghanistan even after 2014 to help the Afghan Government and its institutions to assume administrative and security responsibilities in the country.
