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| June 14, 2003 | Saturday | Rabi-us-Sani 13, 1424 |
US to help in tribal areas uplift: envoy
ISLAMABAD, June 13: United States Ambassador Nancy Powell said on Friday that the US was considering projects for building infrastructure facilities in the tribal areas.
Talking to States and Frontier Regions Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, she said the US valued Pakistan’s contribution for eradicating terrorism in the region.
Ms Powell assured the minister of her government’s support for strengthening the capacity of the law enforcement agencies in the NWFP and the tribal areas.
Donors would extend more aid to Pakistan provided there was a better law and order situation and conducive environment for the non-governmental organizations to work, she said.
She appreciated the release of Afghan nationals who were held in jails here.
Mr Sherpao briefed the envoy on his recent visit to Afghanistan where he discussed the pace of repatriation of refugees.
The minister said Pakistan might be a bit behind the target of repatriating 600,000 refugees as it was a voluntary process and it depended upon the reconstruction process in Afghanistan.
He said Pakistan was at a take-off stage and the government wanted to provide better health, sanitation and education facilities to the refugees.
The minister told the ambassador that no one would come on the streets against the Legal Framework Order and said the masses wanted more jobs and socioeconomic development.
He said the opposition should take part in the budget proceedings.
Damaging of billboards was not an appropriate act of the NWFP government, he added.—APP
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