'Pakistan lost $43 billion in last nine years'

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has stated that Pakistan lost $43 billion in last nine years as a result of terrorism.

Speaking at the Ministerial Meeting of Friends of Democratic Pakistan on Saturday, Qureshi said since 9/11 there have been 247 suicide attacks in Pakistan killing over 3000 civilians, injuring over 7000.

“We lost over 2550 security personnel in ongoing law enforcement operations. Our cumulative economic losses are also substantial. According to conservative estimates, Pakistan lost $43 billion in last nine years, our exports and foreign investments have been badly hurt. Our people shown remarkable resilience in face of varied and daunting challenges” he said.

Pakistan plans to hold second public-private partnership conference in Islamabad sometime this year or early next year, he added.

Meanwhile, US special representative for Afghanistan Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke said that Friends of Democratic Pakistan has prepared recommendations to tackle the energy crisis in Pakistan.

Holbrooke said that Rs770 billion is required to invest in Pakistan for these projects and Friends of Democratic Pakistan will help to deal with the power crisis.

Holbrooke urged the formation of a task force to solve the water issue, stating that Pakistan is facing many challenges and joint efforts are needed to solve these issues.

He further said the US has fulfilled its promises made in the Donor Conference and asked donor countries to give Pakistan additional aid before the Brussels Conference on October 15^th.

The meeting was attended by representatives from members of FODP, World Bank and other international financial organizations.