Pak-US: Dastgir advocates greater trade access

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government is pursuing a policy of economic diplomacy, says minister.

WASHINGTON:

Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan made a case for greater trade access for Pakistani products to the large US market while emphasising Islamabad’s policy to bolster the national economy through expansion in trade instead of reliance on aid.         

Speaking at a Washington think-tank, he said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government is pursuing a policy of economic diplomacy, and instead of aid, it wants to foster normal trade relations with countries. “Trade more, if I were to say in two words” the way Islamabad wants to further enhance Pakistan-US relations, he said at the Atlantic Council discussion.

Dastgir, who was accompanied by Secretary Commerce Shahzad Arbab and Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States Jalil Abbas Jilani, held extensive discussions with the US Trade Representative Michael Froman on Tuesday.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2014.

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