Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi addressing the gathering on Monday evening. PHOTO: ONLINE
KARACHI: The main aim of Pakistan’s foreign policy is to boost economic trade and the country has no intention of interfering with the internal affairs of any other state, said the special assistant to the prime minister, Syed Tariq Fatemi.
“The present government believes diplomatic ties encourage economic trade, but in the past they were being used to improve political ties,” said Fatemi, while addressing the interactive session on ‘Pakistan’s Foreign Policy Objectives’ organised by the Karachi Council of Foreign Relations at the Marriott hotel on Monday.
Diplomats and businessmen attended the session and inquired into any possible shift of the country’s foreign policy and its impact on trade.
The minister briefly explained the stance of the current government and its ties with all major countries, including the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, India, Iran and Afghanistan. He also discussed what Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government considers the best way to enhance relations with neighbouring countries.
Fatemi said that projects with China will open new opportunities for citizens as various mega projects are being launched in the country. “We have asked China to invest in Pakistan and to come assist us,” he said.
“There are 16 power projects that are being supported by China and we will be able to produce more electricity than ever before. Hopefully, it will help our economy.”
He then discussed the infrastructural projects that China is providing help with, including the Karachi-Lahore motorway, the Karachi-Gwadar motorway and the Karachi to Peshawar railway line. “The transport system in Karachi is a mess and we have asked Japan to help us with the Karachi circular railway,” Fatemi said, before turning his attention to Pakistan’s other large neighbour.
“PM Nawaz Sharif is convinced that ties with India are very important,” said the minister. “Pakistan will try to establish good relations with India regardless of the result of their elections.”
He then went on to talk about Pakistan’s relations with the United States. “Today, our relationship with the United States is more formal than ever before,” said Fatemi, before providing a brief history of the relationship the two countries have enjoyed over the years.
Fatemi also said that a good relationship with Russia is also important for the present government and added that it is trying to address the problems faced in the past.
“The foreign office is not biased or sentimental towards anyone,” the minister said on the ties with Saudi Arabia, before also stressing upon the importance of Iran. “We give great importance to Iran. We have had a historical, cultural, and religious relationship with the country for centuries, and we also share a border with them,” he said, adding that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be travelling to Iran in a few weeks.
He then talked about the Pakistanis living abroad and dubbed them an asset to the country, before adding that the labour class abroad sends more money back to Pakistan than educated people working white-collar jobs.
Fatemi then went on to discuss the Gwadar port after being questioned by a participant. “It will be functional within the next five years,” the minister claimed. “A complete city will be built, which will include a hospital, a university and a technical institute.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 23rd, 2014.
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