January 18, 2003	Saturday	Ziqa'ad 14, 1423

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ISLAMABAD Jan 17: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Friday issued fresh instructions to the Foreign Office to help minimise the hardships faced by the US Pakistanis in registration under the new INS laws.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Riaz Khokhar had called on the prime minister to inform him about the latest developments in the registrations and the steps taken by the government to help the expatriates.

The premier was also informed that on his instructions Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri would be leaving on Saturday for Washington to discuss the issue with the Bush administration. Earlier, his visit was scheduled for Jan 29.

The foreign secretary told the prime minister about the creation of a legal cell in the Pakistani embassy of Washington D.C., to offer legal aid to the needy countrymen in the US.

The premier was also briefed on Ambassador Ashraf Qazi’s contacts with the US attorney general, in which the latter was requested for a lenient treatment with the Pakistanis under the INS laws. He was told that sufficient funds for the purpose had also been made available.

Secretary Information Syed Anwar Mehmud also called on the prime minister to inform him about the matters relating to the media reporting on the INS related issues.

Mr Jamali directed the information secretary to provide correct and prompt information on the issue through the official electronic media.