Twirp: Terrorist Wahabi Islamic Rep Pakistan 4

[Naresh]

<b>No quick fix for energy crisis : US</b>

KARACHI - The United States is planning to open four visa consular sections in Pakistan within a year while is restarting the consulate service in Karachi, which will provide 100 business visas per week from next month aiming to promote business opportunities and potential of Pakistan’s economy in the current world of economic globalisation and trade liberalisation

Richard Holbrooke, US Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, stated this while speaking at a news conference held on Wednesday at local hotel. He said US was committed to work with Pakistan, and knew well that Pakistan could compete at the global set up, fairly well.

Replying to a question if the upcoming elections in Afghanistan would be fair and transparent, he replied, “I am not sure, whether the elections will be transparent in Afghanistan or not; we will see it when the elections are held. Afghanistan is a different country and it is difficult to hold elections in a war zone. No elections are perfect, but it is hoped that there will be observers and around 800 journalists who will get to cover the election process in Afghanistan.”

He said he felt at home in Pakistan, particularly in Karachi, which he found to be very hospitable, adding being a native New Yorker himself, he had found great similarities between the two cities of Karachi and New York.

Holbrooke said he was well aware of the energy shortfall that was turning the country into complete blackout and also hit hard at the economic and social set up of the country.

Pakistan’s natural resources could be utilised more efficiently in such hard times. But his country did not have a magic solution to every problem that Pakistan was facing, but it could call for help in this regard, he added.

Talking about a plan, he said, “We plan to set up a inter-agency team called the Pakistan Emergency Task Force, which will deal with the short and long term problems of the country. To begin with we plan to have an energy dialogue with business leaders of Pakistan; <b>more importantly, we plan to have financial assistance from OPEC, IMF, ADB and World Bank for ending the energy crisis. The United States is committed to ensure that the economy grows and so do job opportunities for the people of Pakistan.”</b>

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