ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari assured Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani of logistical support to combat the floods and dengue epidemic, while calling for ‘all necessary’ action to be taken to maintain peace in Karachi.
Gilani had called on President Zardari at the Aiwan-e-Sadr where the two discussed pressing matters of the state. Zardari also briefed Gilani over his recent trips to China and Tajikistan.
Zardari said that all necessary measures be taken to maintain peace in Karachi and action against lawless elements and extortionists must be even handed and across the board regardless of political affiliations if any of the criminal elements.
(Read: One-month deadline: Gilani warns squatters to vacate state land)
He said that all possible measures should be taken to provide relief to the flood affected people in various parts of the country mobilizing all available resources at federal and provincial level.
The President called for urgent medical attention to the dengue affected patients and monitoring of measures to prevent the disease from assuming epidemic proportions.
(Read: Dengue disasters: Epidemic escalating with over 2,000 cases)
Attending the Eurasia expo
Briefing the Prime Minister on his recent visit to Urumqi, China, where the President attended the opening ceremony of first China-Eurasia Expo and addressed China-Eurasia Economic Development and Cooperation Forum, the President said that he emphasized enhanced connectivity between countries of the region as the key to prosperity and development of the region.
He said that China Eurasia Expo is a timely and laudable initiative of the Chinese Government to build economic bridges between East and the West.
(Read: Sino-Pak ties: 'Silk Road will be fully revived')
Quadrilateral summit
The President also briefed the Prime Minister about his visit to Dushanbe for participation in Quadrilateral Summit of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia and Tajikistan and separate bilateral meetings with the Presidents of these countries.
The President said that he called for expanding the ambit of mutual transit trade agreement and to remove all hurdles that impede economic interactions.
He said that participation of Russia in major regional projects such as CASA-1000 was a major development. Equally important was the Russian pledge to assist in bringing about peace, stability and development of the region, he added.
(Read: Pakistan, Russia agree to broaden scope of existing ties)
Bilateral meetings
The President said that during his meetings with Afghan, Tajik and Russian counterparts in Dushanbe there was unanimity of views to take practical and effective steps on speeding up the process of developing long-term cooperative programmes, establishing communication networks, increasing trade and economic activities and to promote cooperation in the fight against militancy besides other menaces such as the drug trafficking.
He said that mutual consensus on extending cooperation in various areas including energy, infrastructure development and regional trade was a positive development that bode well for the socio-economic prosperity of the region.
(Read: Ties with Moscow: Despite talk of cooperation no sign of Russia pact)
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