Pakistan eying new direction to benefit from Asian markets: Foreign Minister

MULTAN, May 11 (APS): Foreign minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Sunday that country was in the process of heading towards a new direction under his ‘Look-East’ vision of economic diplomacy aimed at strengthening bilateral trade ties with Asian countries.
While addressing a press conference at the local circuit house, the foreign minister identified worsening economic situation as an internal threat and promised relentless efforts to address thorny issues of trade deficit and others to help Pakistan survive amid challenging competitive environment.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, Pakistan attaches greater importance to friendly ties with the West and the US which is a strong military and economic power.
He, however, added that attention must also be paid to the Asian countries which are registering phenomenal growth amid global phenomenon of recession, inflation and unemployment.
He said that Asian countries were growing at the rate of 11-12 percent amid global challenging environment. Naming countries like China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, and others, he said that Pakistan must learn from these success stories and promote bilateral trade ties with them and all others to accrue benefits.
He said that bilateral trade ties will gradually become the foundation for relations among the countries instead of political or ideological links in the days to come.
The foreign minister said: “We are trying to take a new direction.”
He said, Pakistan enjoys time-tested friendly ties with China but added that bilateral trade relations with China needed to be expanded and strengthened further.
China is rich in technology and resources and is willing to offer concessional credit to Pakistan for our development.
“Our foreign policy is based on maintaining friendly ties with all countries particularly the neighbouring countries.”
To a question, Shah Mehmood said that foreign office and ambassadors were doing a good job despite difficulties and limited resources. “But, it does not mean there is no room for improvement.”
When asked about measures to improve the performance of commercial attaches and counsellors, he said that it also involves the ministries of commerce, and finance, but promised that commercial attaches will be given targets to enhance Pakistani products export.
To a question on human smuggling, he said that government will look into the matter thoroughly to find out lacunae and will amend the law if needed to check it. He, however, also appealed the people to avail services of only the established and licensed agencies for going abroad for jobs.
Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that regional peace and stability, economic relations with other countries, strengthening Pakistan amid challenging environment, resolution of Kashmir issue in accordance with the will of the people of Kashmir, friendly ties with all neighbours and protecting interests of expatriate Pakistanis were the main objectives of the foreign policy.
He made it clear that country’s sovereignty will not be compromised and national interests will reign supreme in formulation of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
The foreign minister said that Pakistan had expressed apprehensions over the assignment of US Gen. Hood at US embassy in Pakistan and added that while honouring our reservations, the US government has put its plan on hold to revise the decision.
He said that Irani president visited Pakistan for the first time in last six years and leaders of both countries held talks in an independent manner on gas pipeline project.
The foreign minister disclosed that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani has signed the summary seeking UN probe into the assassination of martyred party leader Benazir Bhutto.
He said that the resolution passed by the National Assembly on the matter was forwarded to the law ministry and ministry of foreign affairs and later a summary was sent to the Prime Minister.
He said that he will send this summary to the United Nations after he returns to the federal capital.
To a question on judges’ issue, he said that both parties including PML-N and PPP were making efforts sincerely to come up with a solution.
He said, “We believe the Nov-3 act was unconstitutional. We want an independent judiciary and it is our desire that deposed judges should be restored.”
Later, the foreign minister also met with different delegations and party workers and office bearers at the circuit house.