LAHORE, Jan 13: Pakistan prefers trade over aid, Punjab Minister for Labour and Manpower Lt-Gen Muhammad Tariq (retired) has said.

He was talking to a delegation of International Conference of Free Trade Unions, Asia Pacific Region, here. The delegation was led by unions general-secretary Noriyaki Suzuki.

The minister thanked the European Union for relaxing trade restrictions after Pakistan joined the coalition against terrorism.

The minister reiterated government’s resolve to bridge the gap between the income of employers and employees in a systematic way so that worker class also benefits from the fruit of forthcoming prosperity in Pakistan in the wake of possible increase in productivity as well as export potential as more investment pours in the region.

Mr Suzuki praised the government’s efforts for workers welfare by introducing new structure of minimum wages for both skilled and unskilled workers besides holding of National Tripartite Conference after 13 years.

He also offered all out support to the ministry of labour and manpower for imparting training to labourer class.