WASHINGTON, Nov 6: The US should conclude a free trade agreement with Pakistan to help it overcome the negative effects of earthquake that killed about 80,000 people and displaced millions, says a senior aide to President George Bush.

Ed Gillespie, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, said he believes the FTA would help “the revival of the Pakistani economy badly affected by the earthquake.”

“This would be a major help,” said Ambassador Jehangir Karamat. “It will go a long way in rebuilding our economy.”

Pakistan has been trying for the last three years to conclude a free trade agreement with the US but has not yet succeeded in achieving this target. An FTA establishes unimpeded exchange and flow of goods and services between trading partners regardless of national borders. It can also ensure preferential access to the US market for Pakistani goods.

“A trade relationship is very important,” said Mr Gillespie. “By allowing more Pakistani goods and services to reach the US market, we can help Pakistan overcome the long-term effects of the earthquake.”

Senate Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro, also welcomed the suggestion and reminded the guests at a Saturday night fundraising dinner in Virginia that the need to back the reconstruction process was even greater than supporting relief operations.

“Now we will tackle greater problems, such as rehabilitating the children who have lost their parents, relocating survivors to safer areas, removing debris, rebuilding houses, and reviving the communities destroyed in the earthquake,” he said.

Mr Gillespie said he believes that direct US assistance to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the affected areas would not only continue but may also increase.

“Pakistan is an important US ally and we cannot afford to ignore Pakistan. We want to help and we will help,” he said.

Chairman Soomro, Mr Gillespie and Mr Karamat were among dozens of guests at a fundraising dinner at the residence of a Pakistani-American businessman, Rifat Mahmood, where $500,000 were raised for the earthquake victims.

“Events like this will ensure long-term engagement of the international community with the relief, rehabilitation and reconstructions works,” said Susan Allen, wife of Senator George Allen of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a powerful Republican lawmaker from Virginia.