March 4, 2006	Saturday	Safar 3, 1427

ISLAMABAD, March 3: Pakistan will seek United States’ help for the establishment of qualified industrial zones (QIZs) in tribal and other terrorist-prone areas to reduce the incidence of poverty and extremism.

A senior official told Dawn on Friday that the proposal among others would be formally raised during the meeting of President Pervez Musharraf with US President George W. Bush.

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai had also disclosed in a recent visit to Islamabad that Afghanistan and Pakistan would jointly establish QIZs in border areas in an effort to reduce poverty and eradicate the menace of extremism. He said further that his government had already sought help from the US in this regard.

The official said that Pakistan would urge the US authorities for extending help in the establishment of the proposed zones.

Under the proposed plan, the government has also decided to involve the private sector to address poverty issues in economically depressed regions.

However, the official said that in case the US promised a preferential market for Pakistani products, it would create an opportunity for the private sector to invest in these regions, create employment and generate economic activity. He said Pakistan had also proposed a special trading arrangement for these regions.

The official said Islamabad would demand a similar arrangement of the Israel-Jordan QIZ for both Pakistan and Afghanistan to generate employment opportunities in remote areas. Under this arrangement, goods produced in such zones could be exported to the US market duty free or at preferential customs duty. The benefit derived from the proposed QIZs could be shared between Pakistan and Afghanistan, added the official.