ISLAMABAD, Sept 17: The United States wants Pakistan to take action against individuals and organisations allegedly involved in funding terrorist outfits and the issue will come up for discussion when US Treasury Secretary John Snow visits Islamabad on Friday, Dawn learnt on Wednesday.
Sources said that Pakistan had assured Bush administration of cooperating in connection with apprehending persons allegedly involved in providing financial help to terrorist groups.
The government, in this behalf, will facilitate Mr Snow to visit any bank or Hawala company, enabling him to ensure that nothing was being done against the interests of the Americans in Pakistan.
Sources said that the US Treasury Secretary will call for early framing of anti-money laundering laws. The draft of the anti-money laundering law has been sent to the cabinet for approval after which it will be presented in the Parliament for final approval.
“Mr Snow’s visit will be a prelude to Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali’s tour to the US and hopefully a number of issues would be finalised during the one-day visit of the US secretary treasury,” said a senior finance ministry official.
The government, he said, had also finalised its priorities for spending $1.5 billion out of the $3 billion economic assistance package earlier announced by the Bush Administration.
“During our meeting with Mr Snow we will discuss these priorities but naturally the government wants to spend the US grant mainly for poverty alleviation, improving health and educational services, women emancipation and rural development ... But two-thirds of the grant could also be used for retiring the US bilateral debt,” he added.
The official said that Mr Snow will take with him the details of the social sector spending and later place it before his government.
He said that Pakistan would want further American support from the World Bank and the IMF and the matter will be discussed during Mr Snow’s visit.
The official said that Pakistan would also raise the issue of negative travel advisory invariably issued to those interested in investing in Pakistan.