Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani

While talking to British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs William Hague on Wednesday, the Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani asked the British government to continue using its influence with other allied countries to honour their commitments of economic assistance to Pakistan and to engage European states that were blocking Pakistan’s request for greater market access for its products to the European Union.

He termed illiteracy and poverty as the root causes of extremism and terrorism and stated that Pakistan could counter the menace only through a robust economy.

Hague said the new British government wanted to put a new momentum into bilateral relations by focusing on areas of trade, investment and economic cooperation. He assured the PM that Pakistan could count on UK’s support for gaining access to the EU markets.

He said “The UK would remain steadfastly by Pakistan’s side and help it in every possible way to meet its challenges,”

Hague informed the PM that his government had announced an assistance package of £50 million for stabilization and reconstruction of the areas affected by militancy on the Pak-Afghan border.

“The UK will keep assisting Pakistan in its endeavors to fight the menace of extremism and terrorism through provision of assistance for eradication of illiteracy and alleviation of poverty,” he said.

He said that the British government was actively involved with Pakistan through the Joint Education Task Force and would be contributing £250 million for improving literacy and by providing £320 million to Pakistan as budgetary support for poverty alleviation over the next three years.

Tabs: Donor countries, Hague, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, pakistan, uk