KARACHI, April 9: US Consul General Rohn Douglas said on Friday that the United States had offered a $300 million economic assistance package to Pakistan over a period of three years. Another $300 million has been planned for a period of five years in the areas of education and training, healthcare, debt restructuring, governance and many other fields, the US consul general said during a meeting with businessmen at the KCCI.

Mr Douglas said: "We consider ourselves as friends of Karachi and there are a lot of opportunities of doing business in Karachi." He suggested the business community to consult commercial services section for assistance in exploring new areas of economic cooperation and business development through joint ventures. He informed the members that a catalogue show was being organized in near future.

In reply to a query regarding travel advice to its citizens by the US government, the consul general said that after the 9/11 incidents the US government had rightly become cautious. "However, the travel advice does not bar Americans to travel to respective countries. They have only been advised to take specific precautionary measures."

Accepting the negative impact of such instructions on economic relations, he suggested that local business groups and Pakistani groups in America should combine and lobby to promote the positive image of Pakistan, particularly that of Karachi, says a press of the KCCI.

KCCI president Siraj Kassam Teli said the improved relations between the US and Pakistan alongside wide-ranging cooperation on war on terror and recently given status of major non-Nato alley to Pakistan were not reflected on the economic side, specially in the areas of trade and investment.

He stressed on strengthening and deepening of economic ties between the two countries through proper projection of economic activities and development taking place in the country.