ISLAMABAD, Oct 30: Pakistan has sought more market access, debt relief and enhanced budgetary support from the United States.

According to official sources, Minister for Finance Shaukat Aziz on Wednesday asked Director, Policy Planning for the United States Richard Hass, who called on him, to increase Pakistan’s assistance specially by extending more market access.

The sources said that both sides discussed quota and tariffs for Pakistani products in the United States. Aziz reminded Mr. Hass that Pakistan had been assured that after the approval of Trade Promotion Authority Bill, Bush administration will increase market access for Pakistani products.

However, the finance minister regretted that despite adoption of the bill by the US congress, no new market access was offered to Pakistan.

He said that there was steep reduction in the US support to Pakistan. He said first there was $660 million budgetary support which was reduced to $200 million. The finance minister called for more assistance so that considerable funds could be spent on poverty reduction and human resources development.

The sources said that he pointed out that Pakistan was offered just $140 million market access and that too in the “slow moving items”. He said Pakistan did realise that while there was a need for a new law to reduce tariff, there was no problem for the US government to extend more market access for Pakistani products.

Mr. Hass assured that Pakistan’s $1 billion out of $3.2 billion US debt will be written off after the approval of the US Congress shortly.

The sources said that the finance minister also raised the issue of visas for businessmen and students. He said Pakistani business needed to have more relaxed visa policy to promote trade and investment activities between the two countries.

He said Pakistan was looking forward to high market access for its textiles as higher quotas would generate economic activity and create jobs, which will reduce deprivation.

Aziz informed Mr. Hass that Pakistan has a very competitive textile industry producing world-class products which have an attractive market in the US provided quotas are available.

He briefed Mr. Hass about economic reforms and several social sector programmes including education, health and poverty reduction measures.

He stated that Pakistan’s macro-economic situation has improved considerably and structural reforms will consolidate these benefits in the coming years. Mr. Hass appreciated Pakistan’s economic performance and assured of continued US support in the area of financial assistance, market access and debt relief.

The finance minister said that induction of the elected government will be a source of strength for economy, and that Pakistan believed in consistency to consolidate its economic gains and benefit the public at large. Mr. Hass is on visit to Islamabad to discuss bilateral relations between United States and Pakistan.

The meeting among others, was attended by American Ambassador to Pakistan, members of entourage and senior officials of the Ministry of Finance.