October 26, 2007	Friday	Shawwal 13, 1428

KARACHI, Oct 25: The US is committed to a long-term economic, strategic and commercial relationship with Pakistan because it is an important ally of the United States.

This was stated by US ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson while talking to a select gathering of businessmen at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Wednesday.

“The US is currently Pakistan’s largest trade and economic partner and we have always supported economic development in Pakistan and trade with it,” she said, adding her country was open for visits by businessman, students and tourists. She said opportunities for bilateral trade between Pakistan and US are enormous and beneficial for both the countries.

She, however, said that it was incumbent upon the US government to inform its citizens about the prevailing environment in any foreign country for which travel advisories are periodically issued.

She categorically denied that travel advisories are politically- motivated and said these advisories have been issued even for Mexico, which is a neighbour of America and its NAFTA partner. She said that travel advisories are for security purposes. “Our security concerns are known to every one,” she emphasised.

Regarding issuance of visas, she disclosed that US law requires that anyone applying for visa must appear in person at the embassy and it is for this reason that issuance of visas had been centralised in Islamabad.

She said rejection rate has decreased and students are interviewed without appointment.

She said a request for issuance of business visas shall promptly be considered subject to security concerns.

Earlier, Shamim Shamsi, president of the KCCI, said Pakistan, despite being a front-line state in combating terrorism and a true ally of the US, is yet to see increased economic cooperation between the two countries.

The US must reciprocate this contribution by helping Pakistan to address the economic challenges through shifting its support from conventional aid to market access, investment, technology transfer, education and training, scientific research and infrastructure development, he said.

He pleaded for providing a level playing field in textile trade by allowing textiles and clothing to enter the US market on the same terms and conditions as given to Mexico, Central America, Caribbean and Sub-Sahran Africa.

He said imports from these countries and regions are zero-rated while Pakistani textile goods are subject to around 10.5 per cent duty.

Siraj Kassam Teli, past president of KCCI, said Pakistan is interested in US investment in infrastructure, energy and human resource development sectors to cope with its needs for a rapidly growing knowledge-based economy.

He said although Pakistan in 2006-07 had successfully attracted a record US investment of $1.7 billion, it needs to be further enhanced keeping in view the actual existing potential between the two countries.

“We need trade instead of aid,” he added, according to a press release.