Gilani invites Norwegian investment

ISLAMABAD, Kurrent News: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has urged Norway’s pro-active role in the FODP to help Pakistan undertake reconstruction and development of the areas cleared from militants in Fata and the NWFP on fast track basis.

The prime minister was talking to Foreign Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Store, who called on him along with his delegation, at the Prime Minister’s House on Wednesday.While appreciating the Norwegian assistance in establishment of 350 community schools in Fata and for improvement of basic education in the NWFP, the prime minister underlined the imperative of rebuilding the physical and socio-economic infrastructure in those areas and provision of job opportunities to the people there on immediate basis and underlined friendly countries like Norway’s important role in that regard.

The prime minister said that Pakistan considered Norway an important friend and partner and was keen to enhance and further strengthen the cordial bilateral ties in all areas of mutual interests.

He hoped that the annual bilateral consultations under the framework of bilateral cooperation would be held on regular basis to make progress towards strengthening of political, trade and economic cooperation.

“People-to-people contacts, particularly two-way exchanges of parliamentary delegations and regular high level visits need to be encouraged to give new impetus to deep-rooted relationship”, he added.

The prime minister underscored the need for expansion of bilateral trade to attain its true potential and welcomed Norwegian Company Telenor’s plans to invest $2 billion in Pakistan over the period of next five years.

He expressed the hope that the Norwegian government would also encourage its major companies in the oil and gas, petroleum, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers as well as iron and steel manufacturing sectors to invest in Pakistan independently or through joint ventures with their Pakistani counterparts.

While dilating on Pakistan’s role as a front line state in the war against terrorism, the prime minister said that the Armed forces of Pakistan had achieved remarkable successes by clearing vast areas of the Malakand, Bajaur and Fata from the militants in a short span of time.

He said these valiant successes were nonetheless attained at a great human and economic cost. “In spite of these losses Pakistan remained resolute in clearing its soil from the menace of terror,” he added.

The prime minister termed resolution of long outstanding issues like Kashmir with India, a prerequisite for long lasting and durable peace in the region which will enable Pakistan to single mindedly focus on quelling militancy on its western borders.

He stressed that Pakistan was completely sincere in pursuing friendly and cordial relations with all its neighbours, particularly with India. As for Afghanistan he said that the peace, security and stability in Pakistan was intractably linked to a peaceful and secure Afghanistan.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store stated that though he was visiting Pakistan for the third time, it was a matter of pleasure for him to be meeting a civilian chief executive of the country for the first time, during these visits.

He assured the prime minister of his country’s complete support for institutionalization of democracy in Pakistan. He said Norway had become part of the FODP process wholeheartedly and would continue to assist Pakistan in every way possible bilaterally as well as through the FODP and other international mechanisms.

The Norwegian foreign minister paid tributes to Pakistan Armed Forces as well as law Enforcement Agencies personnel for their role and sacrifices in countering the threat of terrorism. He termed Pakistan as the most pivotal country in the war against terror and for restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan.

While assuring the prime minister of his government’s support in providing greater market access for Pakistani products and higher investment by Norwegian companies, Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store said that Pakistani diaspora in Norway will also be encouraged to facilitate strengthening of economic cooperation between the two countries.

Norwegian Ambassador in Pakistan Robert Kvile, Minister for Foreign Affairs Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Senator Sughra Imam, Rab Nawaz Khan, Ambassador of Pakistan to Norway and foreign secretary were also present in the meeting.