Dar vows continuous efforts to solidify Pak-US relations during Trump Admin

• Will work for ties based on mutual respect and interests;
• Acting Dy Secretary briefed on counter terror operations 
• Dar addresses members of US-Pak BC at US Chambers;
• Pakistan fast improving ease of doing business: FinMin

WASHINGTON: Federal Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar has said that Pakistan would continue to make efforts to build on the already existing mutually beneficial elements in Pak-US bilateral relationship in the days and months ahead to further solidify the relations between the two countries during the Trump Administration.

"We would continue to work for a relationship based on mutual respect and mutuality of interests," observed the Finance Minister while talking to US Acting Deputy Secretary of State Tom Shannon who called on him at Pakistan Embassy, Washington, said a press release issued Tuesday. 

The Finance Minister, who is visiting the United States to participate in the spring meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), is utilizing his stay in Washington to engage the US officials for exchange of views on important bilateral matters and regional issues.

Reiterating Pakistan's strong resolve to combat terrorism and extremism in the country, the Finance Minister briefed the Acting Deputy Secretary about Pakistan's sustained counter terror operations all over Pakistan. 

"We are conducting these security operations with the unwavering belief that ridding the society of the scourge of terrorists and extremists is in Pakistan's national interest," he said. 

"People of Pakistan are backing our security forces in their operations as a result of the national consensus achieved by the people and the institutions of Pakistan. There is no other country which has sacrificed more in human life and material terms than Pakistan in the global fight against terrorism," conveyed Dar.

He told the US official that, "The economic turnaround in the country was an indication of the improved security situation as well as a result of the highly liberal economic policies pursued by the government of Pakistan." 

He assured the US official that, "The Government would not relent the pressure on the elements engaged in terrorism and extremism in the country till the objectives set out in the National Action Plan for secure and prosperous Pakistan were achieved."

The Finance Minister welcomed the US National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. McMaster's recent visit to Pakistan, terming it a "strong and timely indication of the US's desire to partner with Pakistan in achieving the common objectives of peace and security in Afghanistan and the larger South Asia region."

Highlighting the concerns in Pakistan over the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, Dar observed that, "The only long-term resolution of the problems in Afghanistan was political and use of military means should only be to facilitate an Afghan owned and Afghan led reconciliation process."

Tom Shannon conveyed to the Finance Minister the Trump Administration's commitment to engage Pakistan for a broad based bilateral relationship and to partner with Pakistan to achieve regional peace and security in South Asia.

Meanwhile, Federal Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar has said that Pakistan was fast improving ease of doing business in the country. 

"After having achieved macroeconomic stability, the Govt. was now making concrete efforts to achieve sustainable and inclusive higher growth," he added while addressing members of US-Pakistan Business Council (USPBC) at US Chamber of Commerce at Washington, a press release said on Tuesday.

The Finance Minister said, "The present Government was committed to ensuring transparency in all sectors of the economy and for this it was working closely with international organizations." 

"For the government, bringing good governance through transparency and fighting against corruption and tax evasion was a serious business," Dar emphasized.

Ishaq Dar apprised the audience that, "International rating of Pakistan had improved from negative to positive during the span of last four years. Our Stock Market has emerged as 5th best performer in the world which clearly indicated that Pakistan had huge potential for investment." 

"Pakistan had so far introduced 24 laws to make the environment business friendly whereas ten more such laws were in the making," Dar said.

While stating that Pakistan and the US had long history of strong bilateral relations particularly in the arena of trade, business and social development, Minister Dar urged the US investors to take advantage of the tremendous investment opportunities coming up in Pakistan. 

He informed the participants that, "International Companies must consider relocating their manufacturing operations to Pakistan as the country had abundant supply of cheap labour and provided convenient access to very large regional market."

"Presently, Pakistan was offering low interest rate and was in the process of setting up Pakistan Infrastructure Bank led by International Finance Corporation (IFC) to provide capital for infrastructural development to the private sector," he said. 

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar added that, "Financial and digital inclusion of Pakistani population was among top priorities of the government." 

The event was attended by the representatives of large US Multinationals including GE, Boeing, LockHeed Martin, Proctor and Gamble, Monsanto, ExxonMobil, Motorola, Uber, Cocacola and others who greatly appreciated the robust improvement in economic & business environment in Pakistan. - NNI