Musharraf directs envoys to focus on foreign investment

By Shaukat Piracha

ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf directed senior Foreign Office members and Pakistan ambassadors abroad on Friday to use their expertise to promote foreign investment and increase exports in addition to achieving the strategic and political objectives of Pakistan’s foreign policy.

“Pakistani envoys should demonstrate more leadership, drive and initiative in these areas,” said President Musharraf while addressing the officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Foreign Office. “The second visit of the president to the Foreign Office within three months reflects his keen interest in the foreign policy of Pakistan,” sources said.

The President outlined the foreign policy priorities of the Government of Pakistan and shared his vision with the officers on how to implement decisions that make an impact on Pakistan’s vital interests. The president directed the Foreign Office and Pakistani missions abroad to pursue Pakistan’s foreign policy goals with zeal, commitment and passion.

He said that in the past four years, Pakistan’s relations with key nations, regions, and international organisations have seen a turnaround. “Pakistan had strong relations with the US, European Union, China, Central Asia, the Middle East, and East Asia,” he said. “With Russia, a deliberate effort has been made to improve relations. A composite dialogue with India had been started. Pakistan was actively participating in the deliberations of the UN and OIC,” he added.

“The president stayed at the Foreign Office for a couple of hours and the full range of the foreign policy were discussed,” sources said.

The president commended the professionalism of Pakistani diplomats working at home and abroad and stressed that they should use their capabilities to meet new challenges. The president said that Pakistan’s economy was now on an upward curve, with several entrepreneurs, financiers and investors taking an interest in Pakistan’s markets.

The president asked Foreign Office professionals to build on these foundations and fully use Pakistan’s economic and commercial potential. The president engaged in an open interaction with Foreign Ministry officials and heard their suggestions on career progression, training, and improving the working environment. “It was stressed in this session that any misunderstanding abroad regarding Pakistan’s efforts to break the proliferation network should be removed and the world be made to realise that Pakistan was sincere in breaking the network,” sources said.

The roadmap of composite dialogue with India was also thoroughly discussed and it was stressed that the ambassadors abroad should keep lobbying to make the composite dialogue a success, sources said. Senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also highlighted certain financial constraints in pursuing foreign policy goals during the president’s visit to the Foreign Office, sources added.

Musharraf’s speech

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan television (PTV World) will telecast President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s address to “India Today Conclave 2004” on Saturday night. He will address the conclave from Islamabad via satellite, which will be followed by a question-answer session. It will also be shown live by the Indian channel, “Aaj Tak”, and the PTV World. —APP

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