Pakistan blocks India?s entry into NSG: Sartaj
 

ISLAMABAD: Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Tuesday rejected the impression that Pakistan has been isolated in the international community and said the country was pursuing a balanced policy based on **n-interference and protection of national interests and nuclear assets.

“Pakistan is pursuing a balanced policy of **n-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and protection of its own national interests,” Sartaj Aziz, while speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, said.

Winding up a debate on demands for grants for the Foreign ******, Sartaj Aziz pointed out that Pakistan was making successful efforts for the **n-entry of India into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

Aziz rejected the impression that Pakistan was being isolated. “We have to prioritize our foreign policy according to new alignments taking place in the world.” He said that work was going on in border management with Afghanistan.

The adviser said Pakistan was pursuing a modest and reasonable foreign policy according to its meager resources. The foreign ministry’s spending for the year 2016-17 was just Rs15 billion against India’s Rs115 billion.

Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan has historic and religious relations with the Muslim countries, mentioning that that relations with Iran are moving in the right direction and after lifting of sanctions against Iran, relations between Pakistan and Iran will be strengthened. “Pakistan is **w more confident and in a stable position,” Aziz maintained.

He said Pakistan was pursuing a policy of ** favourites regarding Afghanistan and making efforts through the Quadrilateral Group to establish peace in that country.

Aziz told the house that the China-Pakistan Eco**mic Corridor, CASA-1000, Tapi and Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline Project are concrete achievements which will help increase connectivity. He pointed out that with the SCO membership, Pakistan’s political role will be enhanced.

He said that services to community by the Pakistani missions abroad had been improved during the last three years. He said facilities like machine readable passports, Nadra facilities and online application system were **w available for overseas Pakistanis.

He said facilities were being expanded to where the overseas Pakistanis are living in large number like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The National Assembly approved four demands for grants for the next financial year relating to foreign affairs.

Sartaj Aziz said that Pakistan ensured protection of its nuclear interests and programme despite pressure from the United States. He said while Pakistan blocked the way of India into the NSG, a former Pakistan ambassador in the US was working against Pakistan’s interests.

He said Pakistan had historical and cultural ties with the Muslim countries and a few visits of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to some Muslim states would have ** effect on Pakistan’s relations with them.

The House rejected 108 cut motions moved by the opposition members against these demands. In their speeches on cut motions, the opposition members criticised the foreign policy of the government and said Pakistan was becoming isolated.

They stressed for good relations with the neighbouring countries pointing out that eco**my should be strengthened for an independent foreign policy. They termed efforts of the Foreign ****** insufficient for getting the membership of Nuclear Suppliers Group [NSG].

The opposition members said efforts were **t made for export of Pakistani manpower abroad. They criticised the performance of Pakistani missions abroad to facilitate the Overseas Pakistanis. They demanded that foreign policy should be reviewed keeping in view the changes taking place in the region.

Those who took part in the discussion included Shaikh Rashid Ahmad, Syed Naveed Qamar, Dr Shireen Mazari, Shaikh Salahuddin, Ayesha Syed, Jamshed Dasti, Mussarat Rafique Mahesar, Imran Khattak, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Shazia Marri.

The National Assembly also approved two demands for grants for the next financial year relating to the National Food Security and Research Division. The house rejected 186 cut motions moved by the opposition members against these demands.

Winding up the debate on cut motions, Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Bosan expressed the confidence that incentives offered in the budget would help the cost of production in agriculture.

About food security, he said the country is surplus in wheat, rice, sugar and maize. He said a number of new seed varieties of wheat, pulses and maize were under development. He said four agricultural research institutes were being set up in Balochistan besides upgrading of one in the province. Similarly, four research institutes are also being set up in Sindh.

The minister defended levy of tax on milk and said he wanted increased taxes on milk to help promote the local dairy farming.In their speeches on the cut motion, members called for more relief and concessions for agriculture as its development is the key to addressing the problem of rural poverty and achieving food security.



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