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Bilateral trade to soar to $5 billion by 2015
KABUL (December 05, 2010) : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Saturday that Pakistan was committed to enhancing bilateral trade with Afghanistan to $5 billion by 2015, besides building 100 primary schools and 50 basic health units. Addressing a luncheon hosted in honour of his delegation at the Presidential Palace by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the Prime
Minister said that the two countries were committed to the full implementation of the new Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement, as it would create new economic and trade opportunities. He said that Pakistan and Afghanistan should jointly endeavour to establish transregional corridors for communication, transportation, trade and energy. "We need to enhance customs co-operation and management for effective trade facilitation. We are committed to enhancing our current bilateral trade of US $2 billion to US $5 billion by 2015 through joint efforts."
Gilani said, "Pakistan wishes to be a close partner in the progress and prosperity of Afghanistan". He added that despite resource constraints, Pakistan was eager to contribute to the socio-economic development of Afghanistan. "We wish to further fortify this partnership," he said and offered that Pakistan would construct another 100 primary schools and 50 basic health units across Afghanistan.
"We hope that some of these will be dedicated to the education and healthcare of girls and women." He said that Pakistan had already offered 2000 scholarships for Afghan students to study in Pakistan. As of now, over 6000 Afghans were receiving education in various institutions of higher learning in Pakistan.
He reiterated offer to share best practices and contribute to capacity building. Gilani said peace and prosperity of the two countries could only be ensured through economic development. He said the two countries had immense resources and potential.
"We must manage ourselves better and enable our talented people to actualise their remarkable genius. We must jointly endeavour to build each other's economic strength." He said," as immediate neighbours, the two live together and have suffered together. And now we must together carve out a future for our people. A future of peace, prosperity and stability."
Gilani said that he believed in a future where the inherent potential and ingenuity of the two peoples propelled the two countries and regions into a new era of shared development and shared prosperity. "We can do this together," he said and pointed out that the Afghan brothers had suffered from turmoil of three decades.
"They need respite. Afghanistan's stability and peace is our own and vice-a-versa. A stable and prosperous Afghanistan is a guarantee for regional and global peace." He said that regional countries, especially Afghanistan's immediate neighbours had a responsibility towards that country. "We pay tribute to your vision for Afghanistan as articulated in your inaugural speech last year."
Gilani said Pakistan had supported all steps and initiative taken by President Karzai. He said Pakistan believed that the people of Afghanistan should be masters of their own destiny. "We have immense respect and heartfelt affection for our Afghan brothers. We salute your sacrifices and admire the great resilience and talent of the people of Afghanistan."
"We will always stand by our Afghan brothers and sisters. Yours success is our success," Gilani said. He assured that Pakistanis, as true brothers would always bear in mind interests of Afghanistan. "We wish Afghanistan well so that we ourselves are well. We wish Afghanistan peace so that we ourselves are at peace. We do not harbour any desire beyond that. Pakistan's only desire is to see stability, peace and development in Afghanistan."
"The great Afghan nation will always find the people of Pakistan by their side," he added. He expressed gratitude to the Afghan government for the warm reception and generous traditional hospitality to the Pakistani delegation. He recalled President Karzai's visits to Pakistan in March and September and said those had further solidified the bonds of friendship between the two countries and their people. "It is important that as brothers and neighbours we should continue to meet regularly and consult each other on all matters of mutual interest," Gilani said. He said Pakistan and Afghanistan are bound by many affinities. "We have a shared culture, shared religion, shared history and traditions."
