WASHINGTON, April 15: Federal Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan said on Friday that he had urged US officials to grant greater market access to Pakistani goods and to enter into a free trade agreement with Pakistan. Talking to Pakistani journalists in Washington, he also briefed the US officials on “the socio-economic progress” Pakistan has made in the recent past.
He said although he met officials from the State Department as well as the National Security Council, the talks focused on “trade and economy, rather than politics.”
In a meeting with the acting US Trade Representative Peter Allgeier, the minister emphasized the need for entering into a free trade agreement with Pakistan. He said the agreement would be greater help to improving Pakistan’s economy than any direct economic assistance the United States could provide.
Mr Khan said the officials had understood that for the success of war on terror, it was also important to help developing nations overcome their poverty and the sense of deprivation that causes many young men to resort to violence.
“They understand Pakistan’s needs and are willing to help us increase our trade to the United States,” he said.
The minister said that already Pakistan’s exports to the United States were more than double the imports from this country.
During his day-long visit to Washington, Mr Khan met US Secretary Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, Under Secretary of State for Economic, Agriculture and Business Affairs Earl Anthony Wayne, Deputy Assistant to the US President and Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs Faryar Shirzad, Trade Representative-designate Peter Allgeier and Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca.
Mr Khan said he told the US commerce secretary that other friendly nations already enjoyed the FTA status and “Pakistan should be extended the same privilege as well.”
He assured US authorities that Pakistan was taking sincere measures to satisfy US concerns on intellectual property rights and had already set up an organization to deal with this issue.
The Pakistani parliament, he said, was making laws to protect intellectual property rights and these laws would help adequately satisfy US concerns, he added.
