Access to EU Market
By the Editor

FRANCE has agreed to support Pakistan’s effort for getting free market access to the European Union, President Gen Pervez Musharraf told reporters after a two hour meeting with his French counterpart Jacques Chirac at Elysee Palace in Paris on Wednesday. ‘The emphasis in our meeting was on bolstering trade and economic relations’, he said.

With WTO regime staring in our face, the policy of trade rather than aid is obviously the right course to prepare for dealing with the emerging economic challenges.

Pakistan’s effort to get free market access to the European Union represents an appropriate strategy to protect its legitimate future economic interests.

It’s undoubtedly a dignified and honourable way to bring progress and prosperity to the country. France’s nod to support Islamabad’s quest for free EU market access is certainly a positive development that will hopefully help Pakistan realise its cherished economic goals.

France is an important European country and President Chirac’s commitment to support Pakistan’s effort to get free EU market access will undoubtedly strengthen its case.

Most specifically, President Musharraf’s visits to Latin American countries, United States, Britain and France were marked by his emphasis on boosting trade and economic relations with these nations.

He has, as a matter of fact, scrupulously and vigorously pursued his agenda in this behalf ever since he assumed power in October 1999. PM Shaukat Aziz was picked up by him as his Finance Minister with the primary objective to steer the country out of its economic quagmire. And he has certainly delivered. His strategy of trade rather than aid has helped Pakistan to stand on its own feet.

It’s a matter of national pride that his economic strategy has led the country break the begging bowl and extricate itself from the IMF shackles. A lot is, however, still to be done to make Pakistan a vibrant, self-sustaining and strident economy. It’s encouraging that PM Shaukat Aziz has pursued the same strategy even as Prime Minister.

We are convinced that trade-not-aid strategy alone can lead the nation to achieve the target of economic prosperity and to establish an egalitarian society in Pakistan for the socio-economic amelioration of the common man’s lot. The benefit of improved economy must trickle down to the people soon to let the masses get relief from mounting cost of living.●