KAKUL: Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto said here today [April 19] that events in Indo-China will cast their shadow on neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and India and emphasised that India today needed peace with Pakistan “more than we do in view of the developments in South-East Asia”. He was speaking at the convocation of the Pakistan Military Academy. … He said Pakistan’s policy was of peace, and emphasised that when Pakistan endeavoured to mobilise its resources to meet its defence requirements, “it does not mean it is poised for aggression or expansionism”. He said Pakistan wanted peace — an equitable peace. — News agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from Islamabad,] the World Bank’s Aid-to-Pakistan Consortium will meet in Paris on May 7 and 8 to discuss Pakistan’s aid requirements for fiscal year 1975-76, and indicate pledges, official sources said... . A detailed document indicating Pakistan’s financial needs for the next year has been prepared besides a formal aide memoire. Pakistan is requesting the consortium for a commitment of around dollar 700 million for 1975-76. … Pakistan estimates its 1975-76 aid requirements at about dollar 1.5 billion.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2025