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US, Pakistan agree to eliminate networks financing terrorism
The United States has agreed to provide assistance to Pakistan to effectively eliminate networks financing terrorism and strengthen the enforcement of Pakistan's Money Laundering Ordinance. The US would help in enhancing Pakistan's monitoring capabilities and in strengthening the role of the State Bank of Pakistan in this regard. Daniel S Sullivan, Assistant Secretary, US Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs told reporters that the third meeting of the Pakistan-US Economic Dialogue held here discussed issues relating to further deepening the bilateral economic partnership and developing a long-term, broad-based economic relationship that would benefit the citizens of both the countries. Senior officials of the US departments of state, commerce, treasury, the office of the US Trade Representative, the US Agency for International Development, and the US embassy participated in the dialogue. Trade: The two sides discussed a wide-ranging agenda, including macroeconomic policy, labour, intellectual property rights, energy, agricultural cooperation, eliminating terrorism finance networks, reconstruction opportunity zones (ROZs), a GOP scholarship proposal, foreign assistance and FATA development, regional cooperation and transit trade, private sector cooperation, and a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT). "Negotiations on BIT were stalled in 2006 and it is a breakthrough that both the countries have agreed for resumption of these negotiations, as the conclusion of this agreement would help promote cooperation in many areas especially economic relations," Sullivan added. Economic experts from both sides would meet for in-depth negotiations on BIT and would try to conclude their deliberations expeditiously. Declaring security challenges as the reason behind the US travel advisory for Pakistan, he said that despite the advisory, the US was promoting businesses and investment in Pakistan. Posted by: Fred 2008-08-12 |
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