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Dar rules out Pakistanis’ expulsion from Gulf
[Dawn] Pakistan's position on the Yemen ...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of. Except for a tiny handfull of Jews everthing there is very Islamic... conflict will not lead to the expulsion of Pak workers from the Middle East, says Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. The minister told a news briefing in Washington that Pakistain and Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... had signed a military protocol in 1982, which entitles the kingdom to seek Pak troops. "But this agreement was for a different purpose and it is not in national interests to talk about it," he said. "God forbid, we do not want to create the impression that we are not with Saudi Arabia. I am a sinner but I am willing to die defending the two holy mosques." Mr Dar, who was addressing the Pak media at the end of a three-day visit to Washington, was drawn into the Yemen dispute while vowing to take the country's foreign exchange reserves to a record $18.5 billion by the end of this fiscal year. A journalist reminded him that the largest contributor to foreign exchange reserves were overseas Paks who sent a record $13.3 billion in last nine months. But some Arab countries were threatening to expel those workers because of Pakistain's refusal to send troops to Saudi Arabia. "I am almost sure that we will not face this situation," said Mr Dar. "The parliamentary resolution on Yemen was misunderstood in some Arab countries but we have clarified our position." He said Pakistain had a particularly close relationship with Saudi Arabia and wanted to retain those ties. "Pakistain will stand shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia in the event of a threat to its territorial integrity," he said. "We have condemned the Houthis and support the restoration of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. No gang should be allowed to oust a government." The finance minister said Pakistain and ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire.... were playing a reconciliatory role and wanted to bring the two groups to the negotiating table. Mr Dar, who was in Washington to attend spring meetings of the World Bank and IMF, said the IMF would hold the 7th review of its programme for Pakistain from May 1 to 9 in Dubai and he was confident that it would be a positive review. He said the country's foreign exchange reserves had risen to $17.67 billion and would increase further later this year. The State Bank of Pakistain held $12 billion, while private banks had the rest of the total reserves in the country. "Our next target is to cross the past highest level of $18.29 billion in reserves this year. We are targeting $18.5 billion," he said. The minister said that these achievements were particularly significant, as the previous government had brought the country close to bankruptcy. Mr Dar cited a series of macroeconomic indicators -- GDP growth, low inflation, successful return of the country in the international bond, Sukuk and equity markets -- to support his claim that the national economy was not only out of the red zone but was also progressing steadily. He said the "unprecedented completion" of six levels of home-grown reforms with the IMF had also enhanced the confidence of international financial institutions in Pakistain's economy. Mr Dar said Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistain would take ties between the two countries to new heights. Posted by: trailing wife 2015-04-20 |
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