PAKISTAN Review Issue: 2 - Vol: 3 February 2014 Monthly Newsletter of Pakistan High Commission, London Together nation shall progress: Nawaz Sharif Prime Minister and former President jointly perform ground-breaking of the Thar Coal Power Project olitics of confrontation is gone Prime Minister thanked former a n d b u r i e d . N a t i o n a l President Asif Zardari for inviting Preconciliation, politics of him to the ground-breaking consensus and democratic culture ceremony and said it was a matter of have come to be the order of the day. satisfaction that “we are together and The nation is united and country's have the same priorities.” Prime interests reign supreme. These were Minister also agreed to the the views reiterated by Prime suggestion of former President Asif Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Ali Zardari for setting up an at the ground-breaking ceremony of industrial park in Thar aimed to Thar Coal Power Project along with generate employment for the people. former President Asif Ali Zardari on He assured the Federal Government 31 January 2014. would contribute in its development. The project is worth $1.6 billion and “The progress of any province is the would help the country meet its prosperity of entire Pakistan,” he energy needs. Chief Minister Sind added. Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Chief Minister Thar coal field has estimated lignite Balochistan Dr. Abdul Malik, reserves of 175 billion tons, Federal and Provincial Ministers and equivalent to combined oil reserves Chairman Engro Corporation Mr. of Saudi Arabia and Iran. It can be data available by SECMC. It may be the Government of Sind and M/s Hussain Dawood were present on the used to produce 100,000 MW for noted that Thar Coal Power Project is ENGRO Powergen. occasion. hundreds of years, according to the a public-private partnership between Pakistan High Commission lauds supporters of GSP Plus status to Pakistan akistan High Commission special thanks to MEP Sajjad Karim London hosted a dinner who lobbied hard in the European Preception to thank all those who Parliament. consistently supported Pakistan to MEP Sajjad Karim said that award of achieve the GSP Plus status. The GSP Plus status to Pakistan was the dinner was attended by MEP Sajjad result of continuous lobbying by the Karim, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, MP successive British governments and Andrew Stephenson leader of Pakistan's friends in the European Pakistan Group in the Parliament, Parliament. Mr Karim commended members of Parliament and business the efforts by the present government community from across the British to enhance trade with the EU society. countries. In his welcome address Pakistan High Commissioner for UK Mr Wajid Baroness Sayeeda Warsi stated that Shamsul Hasan termed the grant of Pakistan-UK relations were based on GSP Plus status to Pakistan a timely equality and mutual respect. She and much needed development. He assured that the UK was keen to hoped the award of GSP Plus status to enhance trade with Pakistan instead of Pakistan would greatly help economic aid. Andrew Stephenson MP said in turnaround. He informed the audience for this status. by Prime Minister David Cameron, his address that grant of GSP Plus about how-- among others-- the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, status to Pakistan would help meet the The High Commissioner particularly ambitious target of doubling the trade Pakistan High Commission London thanked the British Government led Baroness Ashton and wide cross-party had successfully lobbied with the UK support for Pakistan. He expressed his between the two countries by 2015. Farewell to Adam Thomson, welcome to Philip Barton at Pakistan High Commission akistan Britain Trade & said that he was leaving Pakistan with Investment Forum (PBTIF) in a heart overwhelmed with pleasant Pcollaboration with the Pakistan memories. He said the future of High Commission London hosted a Pakistan was bright as the security dinner to bid farewell to outgoing situation and the economy were British High Commissioner for improving. He hoped that his Pakistan H.E. Adam Thomson and to successor would be able to overcome welcome his successor Mr. Philip the challenge of meeting the target of Barton. £3 billion bilateral trade by 2015. Pakistan High Commissioner Mr Wajid Shamsul Hasan paid glowing Mr Philip Barton in his response said tribute to outgoing British High it was an honour and privilege for him Commissioner for Pakistan for his to represent the United Kingdom in dedicated efforts to strengthen Pakistan. He said the UK was working closely with Pakistan by both the governments. promote the Pakistan-UK trade and relations with Pakistan and welcomed investment relations and at the same Mr Philip Barton as the new High through extensive cooperation in areas of trade & investment and his Nosheena Mobarik Chairperson time expressed her best wishes for Mr Commissioner for Pakistan. PBTIF thanked H.E. Adam Thomson Philip Barton and looked forward to In his address, H.E. Adam Thomson focus would be to achieve the bilateral trade target of £3 billion set for all his hard work and support to working with him. Government determined to turn Pakistan into a truly democratic society: Information Minister of Pakistan headed by the Ambassador of EU, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark. “Now Pakistan is a fully functional democracy where media is free, judiciary is fully independent and the civil society is highly dynamic and vibrant”, the Minister said. The Minister hoped that grant of GSP plus status to Pakistan would not only increase Pakistan's exports to EU but would also pave the way for its e c o n o m i c p r o s p e r i t y a n d development. The delegation appreciated the level of independence available to media in Pakistan. The European Union is one of the h e p r e s e n t d e m o c r a t i c standards of law and human rights fulfilled as they are in the best interest largest trading partners of Pakistan G o v e r n m e n t i s f u l l y practices. All international obligations of Pakistan. These were the views and has always provided humanitarian determined to turn Pakistan with regard to human rights, good expressed by Federal Minister Senator and economic assistance to it in times T of need, particularly during the natural into a truly democratic society g o v e r n a n c e , l a b o u r a n d Pervaiz Rashid in a recent meeting conforming to the international environmental standards will be with European Union delegation calamities. Pakistan High Commission London welcomes new office bearers of UKPCCI he Pakistan High Commission status to Pakistan so that Pakistani London held a reception to exports to the EU markets could be Twelcome the newly elected increased. The High Commissioner office bearers of the UK-Pakistan assured the UKPCCI of all possible Chamber of Commerce & Industry on support from the Pakistan High 24 January 2014. Commission. In his welcome address the High Mr Shaheen thanked the Pakistan High Commissioner congratulated the Commission for its continuing support newly elected team and commended to the UKPCCI and spelled out his the work done by the UKPCCI. He future plans to make the UKPCCI a asked President UKPCCI Mr Abdul vibrant trade body. New Secretary Majeed Shaheen to focus on further General Dr Ghulam Murtaza also strengthening of the Pakistan-UK spoke on the occasion. business ties. The High Commissioner hoped that the newly elected President Mr Ijlal Khattak, Commercial Mr Shaheen would step up efforts to Counsellor at the Pakistan High make the organization more effective Commission, also congratulated the and representative of the Pakistani new UKPCCI team and hoped that the business community in the UK. He new team would try to reach out to hoped the organization would make Pakistani diaspora and establish its special efforts to reap the dividends regional chapters. He further offered by recently awarded GSP Plus suggested that the UKPCCI should try to bring young entrepreneurs a more vibrant organization. especially women, in its fold to make it Country Head of DFID calls on the President of Pakistan Commenting on Pakistan-UK bilateral ties, the President appreciated UK's development assistance of £1.174 billion to Pakistan in different sectors, especially education and health since 2008 and urged the need for UK's cooperation and assistance to meet the growing energy requirements of the country. The President stated that present government accorded top priority to the promotion of education in the country and was committed to allocate more resources for that sector. Appreciating DFID's assistance to facilitate Government of Pakistan, the President noted with pleasure that according to UK government's Operational Plan 2011-15 for Pakistan, our country was the largest recipient of UK's aid in the world. It may be added that UK has committed £ 1,392 million under this plan. The President assured the Country Head, DFID of every possible support and facilitation and wished him a productive and successful stay in ichard Montgomery, Country Sadr on 22 January 2014 and apprised related to UK's assistance to Pakistan Pakistan. Mr Montgomery appreciated Head of Department for him of DFID, its role and the assistance in various fields, initiatives and government's resolve to enhance International Development being provided to Pakistan through projects undertaken with the help of R spending on education sector. (DFID), Pakistan called on President DFID in diverse fields especially DFID in Pakistan came under Mamnoon Hussain at the Aiwan-e- education and health sectors.