FM Qureshi urges US for trade not aid

CAMBRIDGE: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has called upon US government for extending more opportunities of trade for Pakistan instead of aid, adding that Pakistan is suffering history’s worst economic crisis, and multiplying doors for international trade will help achieve economic survival, Geo News reported Monday.

Also, Qureshi urged US government for respect of Pakistan’s sovereignty, saying that US can use its influence for an early and peaceful solution to Kashmir dispute.

FM Qureshi is in the middle of his US visit to participate in Pak-US third round of ‘Strategic Dialogue’

Addressing at the Harvard University prior to leaving for Washington, FM said Pakistan is encountering many a crisis these-days including floods’ devastations, rising militancy and economic instability.

“Under such shadowy circumstances, if Pakistani products can gain access to US and European markets, so it will help increase public’s trust on government”, Qureshi observed.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi said through this way, government will also become able to produce more job opportunities, and we will be able to refrain youths from being used at the hands of militants.

Given all these fragile situations, Pakistan, at this point of time, needs trade not aid, he maintained. “US congress should ink agreement of ‘Free Trade Treaty’ with Pakistan”, he urged.

Pakistan longs for peaceful settlement of all disputed issues with neighboring India and US should come forward to influence for the purpose, he added.