The government of United States of American will help Pak businessmen for export to United States especially mangoes and citrus. This was stated by William Centre, Commercial Counsellor, US Embassy, Islamabad here at a dinner hosted in his honour by founder Chairman Pak-US Business Council and VP SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Pakistan chapter, Iftikhar Ali Malik.

Acting Principal Officer, U.S Consulate Lahore, Matthew D.Lowe was also present on the occasion. He said that We are in the beginning of new presidential administration, we are really refocusing on bilateral engagements with Pakistan and the focus on this point forward is in a number of areas and the area I represent is business and commerce he added. He said that We are more than double in personnel in the area it is enormous increase, we are adding hundreds of people to our mission to focus on economics.

He said that Chief Minister Punjab a month ago we signed a contracts of $94 million for reforms that is focusing on 12 different value chains and try to identify individual firms in those value chains, we try to find way to make those firms more stronger and successful. William Centre said that he firmly believed that when you hire somebody you gave them wage that wage go to the feeding the family, clothing the family and providing the health care to achieve all the goals of development that we all very much support.

He said that he was here to say we are very interested in individual firms to help in achieving your goals and for the next few years very short measure you are going to find that US government would going to help you export through United States and after the five years you would be on your own but for the next immediate period of time we are committed to every thing we can do build capacity in government institutions to help streamline logistics in ports and airports to try to help the trade government of Pakistan and export community to achieve its goals, he remarked.

He said that We will do what we can to make sure that is a growing vibrant economy one of the biggest economies in the region and one that offers hope to people who are desperately in need of hope. He said that If we businessmen develop resources essential for building linkages through trade and making everyones life better, it would be great success. Pakistan in the region, the Saarc would be a common and better place, one day all of us here would breakfast in Amritsar, lunch in Lahore and dinner in Kabul,he concluded.

Speaking on the occasion, Iftikhar Ali Malik said that US must provide direct free market access to Pak products on zero rate duty to help stabilize the countrys bleak economy in the wake of the war against terror. He demanded the immediate export of mangoes and citrus products to US as we have the worlds best quality fresh tasty fruits. He urged the need for US assistance to Pakistan to help overcome the economic crisis, by restoring the quota for Pakistan at par with all other under developed countries.

Malik said that Pak economy is suffering a loss of 7 billion dollars annually as a fallout of the war against terror, which has displaced millions of people and endangered security in the country. Pakistan is an emerging market rich in opportunities for American investment, while the US is already an important trading partner he said. With South Asia becoming the hub of international economic activity, restoration of peace in the region is all the more necessary, he observed.

President Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sultan Ahmad Chawla said that FPCCI will facilitate the US investors and extend full co-operation to them in their areas of interest. Zonal Chairman FPCCI,Mian Muhammad Adress,VPs,FPCCI Hameed Akhtar Chadda,Aftab Ahmad Birlas,LCCI Chief,Mian Muzaffar Ali,former Chairman WAPDA Tariq Hamid, Mian Muhammad Ashraf,Mian Misbah Ur Rehman, Malik Pervaiz,Mohsin,Sh Muhammad Asif, Shahbaz Ali Malik, Waqar Ahmad Mian, Shahzad Ali Malik, chamber presidents from Punjab, Peshawar and other elite of the town were present.

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