ISLAMABAD: Ambassador Daniel Feldman, US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan called on the Federal Minister for Finance Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar at the Ministry of Finance.
Feldman congratulated the Finance Minister on the successful completion of seven reviews by IMF as Pakistan had entered the eighth review. He also praised the efforts of the present government for improving the economy of the country.
The Finance Minister, talking to the US representative said that both Afghanistan and Pakistan believe in the diplomacy of trade and since the last visit of the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in November, things have improved many times in the fields of trade and commerce. “I have been taking special interest in the follow up of the important decisions taken in our November 14 meetings”, said the Minister. Our Government is very clear on the kind of the relationship we want to maintain with our neighboring countries. Trade and economic cooperation take the front seat in our decision making, added the Minister.
Mr. Feldman discussed with the Minister the initiatives Pakistan has been planning to further strengthen the economic ties with Afghanistan. The Minister added that Pakistan is firm on her commitment to extend trade with Afghanistan and both the countries are planning to hold the next Joint Economic Commission session in the month of August this year. Mr. Omar Zakhilwal from Afghan side will cooperate with him for holding the JEC. He also said that the improved security situation in the region will further accelerate the chances of economic activity between the two countries.
The Finance Minister also condemned the terrorist attack on the Indian Territory and said that peace in the country and also in the neighboring countries is the sincerest desire of Pakistan.
The meeting was attended by Major General Lyons SRAP Military Advisor, Mr. Robert Garverick Economic Counselor US Embassy and from the Pakistan side Mr. M.Saleem Sethi, Secretary EAD, SA to Finance Minister Tariq Pasha, Syed Zulfiqar Gardezi DG America Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Joint Secretary to Finance Minister Awais Manzoor Sumra.
