WASHIGNTON, (MILLAT ONLINE/APP): Describing regional peace and
stability as a mutual goal, Pakistan and the United States have
agreed to continue to work to this end during a meeting between
US National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. McMaster and Finance Minister
Ishaq Dar.
The Minister held a detailed meeting with the NSA at the White
House on Tuesday as the Special Envoy of the Prime Minister, and
was assisted by the Pakistan Ambassador to the United States Aizaz
Chaudhry.
The Finance Minister was in Washington to attend the Spring
Meetings of the World Bank and the IMF and also held meetings
with senior US official from the State Department and the
Treasury Department.
During the meeting with Gen. McMaster, the two sides emphasized
the need to have continued engagement on issues of mutual interest.
The Finance Minister highlighted the economic reforms agenda
of the Prime Minister which led to the macro-economic stabilization
and earned appreciation by the international financial institutions.
Updating the NSA on Pakistan’s security situation, the Finance
Minister stressed that Pakistan’s commitment to fight terrorism
from its soil was manifested by the successful conclusion of the
operation Zarb-e-Azb which was now being followed by a nationwide
combing operation Rad-ul-Fisad.
As a result of these efforts, the incidents of terrorism in
Pakistan had significantly reduced, he added.
The US side noted Pakistan’s sacrifices in war against terrorism
and its support to strengthen Pakistan’s counter-terrorism
capabilities. Gen. McMaster also briefed the Finance Minister
about his recent trip to the region which was aimed to assess
the ground situation for the on-going US policy review for
Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the Finance Minister met a group of Pakistani
journalists at the end of his visit to Washington and briefed
them about his meetings with the US officials and the World
Bank and IMF leaders.
The Minister said after completing a successful program with
the IMF, Pakistan will not enter to any more programme with the
international lending agency as the country’s economy was now
stable and moving upward.
He said that Pakistan’s macroeconomic stability achieved
through sustained reforms have been duly acknowledged by the
IMF and the World Bank. The economy is now back on the growth
path and expected to post five percent growth in the year
ending June 30.
The Minister stated that after having achieved the financial
and economic stability, the government was now focusing on the
social sectors through innovative measures, including Pakistan
Development Fund and Pakistan Infrastructure Bank to maintain
the higher growth trajectory.