Dar pitches for further enhancing Pak-Japan trade relations
Staff Reporter
Finance Minister, Senator Ishaq Dar here on Wednesday said Pakistan and Japan had a long history of economic cooperation and that he was now looking forward to furtherance of this cooperation with enhanced Japanese investment in Pakistan as pledged during his visit to Japan.
"The inauguration of state of the art Yamaha motorcycle plant in April, would also add another chapter to our economic cooperation", the Minister said. The Minister, along with Japanese Envoy, Hiroshi Inomata was talking to media after the signing of two Japanese grant agreements and exchange of notes.
Under the agreements, the Japanese Government has extended a grant of $19 million to the GoP for Improvement in Security Arrangements in Port Qasim, Karachi Port and Energy Saving in Water Supply System in Lahore.
The Japanese Ambassador, Hiroshi Inomata and Secretary EAD, Saleem Sethi signed the two project agreements while notes containing details of the implementation of the two projects were simultaneously signed by Kawasaki, Chief Representative of JICA and Syed Mujtaba Hussain, Joint Secretary EAD.
The Minister went on to say that his visit to Japan was very productive as the senior leadership including the Japanese Deputy PM, all key institutions like JETRO, JBIC, JICA and CEOs of prominent companies resolved to have enhanced economic engagement with Pakistan.
He welcomed the signing of the two agreements this morning which he said were another step towards consolidation of Pak-Japan economic ties. Japanese Ambassador, Hiroshi Inomata said he had received positive feedback on the Finance Minister's visit to Japan but there was need to actively follow up on the decisions taken during his meeting with Japanese side.
He said the Japanese government was extending USD 16 billion to developing countries from 201315 on environment related issues. The grant approved for Pakistan (Energy saving for water supply system, Lahore) today also formed part of this assistance.
The Japanese Ambassador once again denounced acts of terror saying "they were outrageous". He said the Japanese government also had a resolve to help Pakistan in the war on terror.
He said the assistance provided today (security improvement in Karachi, Bin Qasim Ports) would help improve security clearance system at the Karachi and Bin Qasim Ports. This is part of our support to Pakistan to curb terrorism, the Ambassador added.
Meanwhile, the Federal Minister for Finance, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar visited Embassy of Saudi Arabia Wednesday morning to condole the sad demise of King Abdullah. In a meeting with the Saudi Charge d' affaires, Jassim Bin Mohammad Al Khaldi, the Minister expressed heart-felt grief and sorrow over the passing away of Saudi king. He said the late king was a great leader and a supporter of Pakistan. He has rendered great services for the religion, the Muslim Ummah and Pakistan. "Late King Abdullah was a great believer in inter-faith harmony and presented before the world the true picture of Islam as a religion of peace and moderation", the Minister remarked.
The Minister further said that with the death of King Abdullah, Pakistan had lost a great friend. "He always helped Pakistan and provided assistance in the hour of need".
The Minister prayed that May Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in peace and grant fortitude to the bereaved family, the Saudi nation and the whole Muslim world to bear this loss. His services for the Muslim world will be written in golden words, the Minister added. The Minister also on the occasion recorded his impressions in the Condolences Book.
Saudi Charge d' affaires, Jassim Bin Mohammad Al Khaldi thanked the Minister for the benign gesture, expressing the hope that Pak-Saudi ties would be further bolstered in future under the new Saudi leadership. Later in an exclusive talk with the foreign media, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar extended warm felicitations to the newly crowned King, Salman Bin Abdul Aziz.