A welcome prospect

IT has been Pakistan's long-standing demand that the US and EU should allow its products greater access to their markets rather than giving it aid handouts. This would provide a great fillip to Pakistan's industrial growth especially as its goods find ready consumption in these countries and help develop skilled workforce well versed in modern production techniques. As a result also, it will make job opportunities available, alleviate poverty and put the country on the road to development and prosperity. Early this month, some hope of trade liberalisation between EU and Pakistan was expressed at a summit between the two. Now on Saturday a statement issued by the G-8 Foreign Ministers' meeting held at Trieste, Italy, has reportedly supported the idea of EU-Pakistan liberalisation, which if put into effect, would be greatly welcome. Foreign Minister Mehmood Qureshi who joined the meeting along with his Afghan counterpart also focused on the development of economic infrastructure and enhanced regional connectivity, open trade corridors and the improvement of rail and road links.
The EU meeting discussed the question of 'stabilisation' of Afghanistan and Pakistan, praised Pakistan's "decisive action against violent extremism and militancy" and committed to work with the UN and humanitarian agencies to help provide assistance to the persons displaced by this operation. Mr Qureshi rightly underlined the challenge of their resettlement and the urgency of assistance required for the purpose. It is a great pity that the international community, which equally stands to benefit from the success of the military campaign, is chary of extending a helping hand to Islamabad in the proper rehabilitation of the over two million IDPs. In this context, it is noteworthy that US Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke, who was also present at the meeting, has expressed his dismay at the world's lukewarm response, while maintaining that the "bill for reconstruction...is going to be enormous" maybe $2 billion.