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Pakistan to take benefit from Chinese economic progress: Humayun
ISLAMABAD, May 27 (NNI): Federal Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar has said that Pakistan would take benefit from the economic progress of China and other countries of the region.
In an interview with BBC he said that Pakistan is sharing a free trade agreement with China, adding that negotiations are also in progress with a number of Asian nations.
Humayun said, “We have signed a South Asia free trade agreement for the South Asian countries. We have gone through major reforms within our economy despite major challenges that we face. Our economy grows at 8.4 per cent. All these indicate towards healthy atmosphere.”
To a question the Commerce Minister said that country is moving quite fast and has made huge improvement in telecom infrastructure, saying, “We have deregulated, we have privatised the monopoly and there are lots of foreign companies coming into Pakistan.”
He further said that Pakistan was also making good progress in training manpower for IT adding that the country is moving towards right direction.
To another query the minister disagreed that the people of Pakistan don’t like the United States. He said the US played important role in the relief and rehabilitation activities after October earthquake. He said that the US sent the Chinook helicopters for providing relief items to the hilly and far-flung areas hit by earthquake. Similarly, he said that it had also established field hospitals in the hit areas where a huge number of quake victims were treated.
Humayun said that the United States and Pakistan have a long tem relationship and we are trying to base it on solid foundations, economic foundations and it has every reason to grow.
To another question that the European Union should make a move in accepting the G-20s offer on agriculture market access and the United States should make counter offer on domestic support which would result in actual cutting of their spending. NNI