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‘Friends’ hammer out framework for co-operation

* Official says meeting informed about talks with IMF, overall state of economy
* Claims all countries willing to support Pakistan

ABU DHABI: The ‘Friends of Pakistan’ forum on Monday pledged support to the country in a meeting during which a ‘framework’ for co-operation was agreed upon.

“The meeting agreed to formulate a workable strategy through which Pakistan can be assisted in its energy needs, economic uplift, infrastructure development, institution building, improved trade access and security,” according to a statement issued after the meeting.

Pakistani officials earlier held talks with representatives of 14 countries, including the United States and Saudi Arabia, following a $7.6 billion International Monetary Fund emergency loan agreed at the weekend as part of a broader economic rescue plan.

“It was agreed that co-ordinated international co-operation with Pakistan is needed to address the challenges it faces, and affirmed the need to build strategic partnerships with the government of Pakistan to promote economic development and financial stability ...,” the statement added.

“It was a very successful meeting, we had (pledges of) unanimous support and solidarity,” Additional Foreign Secretary for South Asia Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry told reporters at the end of the meeting.

Meeting told: “The meeting was told about Pakistan’s negotiations with the IMF, the overall state of the economy and where we need help,” Chaudhry told reporters in Abu Dhabi.

“All these countries are willing to support Pakistan.”

“People are interested in finding ways to help,” he said, adding that the gathering had “put together a framework” for co-operation in the fields of development, security, energy and institution building.

The meeting of representatives from China, the European states, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United States, came two days after Islamabad said it had secured an IMF loan of nearly eight billion dollars.

APP reported that according to the statement issued by the group, the officials who met on Monday expressed thanks to the government of UAE for hosting the meeting.

The forum discussed and adopted a Work Plan of the Group. Expert level meetings will be held in Islamabad from January 13 to 16, 2009.

At each experts level meeting, Pakistan will make presentations on the issues involved indicating financial, expertise, and technological requirements. Specific recommendations will be prepared.

The statement said focal points would be identified to ensure better co-ordination, while suggestions were made about a possible Trust Fund, whose details need discussion. .

The statement also said the officials of the forum countries were briefed on projects on Development and Security clusters.

The forum noted the need to ensure co-ordination for the group modalities through consultations with the United Nations.

It was recommended that a ministerial meeting of the group should be held in Islamabad in February 2009. agencies

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