May 5, 2006	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 6, 1427

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FAISALABAD, May 4: British High Commissioner Mark Lyall Grant has said that no proposal is under consideration between Pakistan and the United Kingdom to transfer nuclear technology for civil purposes as identical to the agreement signed by the US and India.

Talking to the press after addressing members of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) here on Thursday, the British high commissioner said Pakistan and India were two different countries with their separate needs and strategic importance and they were being treated differently.

To a question on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), he said the UK would provide 236 million pounds to Pakistan during the next three years in addition to 128 million pounds, which would be spent on the reconstruction of earthquake affected areas.

Earlier speaking to local industrialists at FCCI Hall, Mr Grant termed the UK visa office as the largest visa service in the world. He said the UK visa offices at Islamabad and Karachi had processed 165,000 applications last year.

He was appreciative of the economic policies of President Pervez Musharraf and said the continuity of these polices could change Pakistan.

He also expressed his satisfaction over relations between India and Pakistan and said the business community could also play a major role in restoring complete normalcy in South Asia.

He pointed out that Britain was extending liberal grant to the development of Faisalabad and in this connection first agreement has been signed between the UK embassy and the district government for financial management system. He also expressed his satisfaction over the bilateral trade between the two countries and said that it had recorded a 50 per cent increase last year while the balance of trade was also in favour of Pakistan.

The high commissioner said five trade missions from UK had paid visit to Pakistan last year and as many were expected to visit this year.

He termed his country as the most vocal supporter of Pakistan in 25-member European Union (EU) and said, “We are trying to give a better access to Pakistani products in EU.” Anti-dumping duty on bed linen exports from Pakistan had been reduced while Pakistan was also enjoying GSP.

Responding to another question, he said the UK was offering 30 scholarships every year to Pakistani students. Mr Grant assured to discuss a proposal with the British Council to provide technical training to workforce in Pakistan.

Earlier, FCCI President Mian Muhammad Hanif presented the address of welcome while Deputy High Commissioner Hamesh Daniel and Political Secretary Mathew Forman also responded to questions raised by participants.