Pakistan set to win donors' trust

ISLAMABAD Economic managers of the country are all set to convince the donors to pool in their resources to facilitate Pakistan to cope with post-flood situation, as Pakistan Development Forum (PDF) kicks off today (Sunday). According to officials, Pakistani side had finalised some proposals regarding economic reforms and stabilisation plan of economy and it would present them to the international community during the two days Pakistan Development Forum (PDF) meeting being held here. The Special US Repres-entative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke would fly from Germany to attend the forum meeting, said that sources. Obama admini-stration attaches great importance to its relationship with Pakistan which is evident from the fact that Holbrooke, who is visiting Germany at present, will be moving to Islamabad for the Pakistan Development Forum over the weekend, said the Pakistani officials. It is pertinent to mention here that, 'Pakistan Devel-opment Forum will offer opportunity to Pakistan to present its economic reforms and stabilisation plans to the international community. There will be a focus on things like energy reform, tax reform and fiscal consolidation, officials said. During the Forum meeting, the US is expected to make announcement for more aid to Pakistan. This is the first high-level visit of a top US official to Pakistan after President Barack Obamas recent India visit. Meeting of the Pakistan Development Forum is believed to be a follow-up of the recent Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FODP) meeting in Brussels, two UN-hosted meetings and the US-Pakistan strategic dialogue here in Washington, said the officials in Islamabad when contacted on Saturday. According to well placed sources, Government of Pakistan has quietly conveyed to the US that it is willing to get engaged in dialogue with the donors to further strengthen the economic system, how-ever, it wants the donors to pool in their resources for supporting its 'Watan Card Scheme to 1.6-1.8 million households. Meanwhile, diplomatic sources told TheNation on Saturday that Obama administration had agreed to give economic assistance to Pakistan for FY2010 in cash, which will be distributed to the victims of flood through 'Watan Card scheme as part of post-flood rehabilitation and reconstruction project. Earlier, donors raised questions regarding trans-parency of 'Watan Card Scheme. During Pakistan-US strategic dialogue, recently held in Washington, requested by Finance Minister, the Obama administration agreed to look at the scheme (Watan Card) very closely and to reprogramme and redirect economic assistance for FY2010 towards post-flood rehabilitation and recons-truction. Sources told TheNation on Saturday that the Obama administration had completed its internal rethinking regarding Watan Card Sch-eme and this reprogramming is likely to be announced during the PDF being held on Nov 14-15, 2010 in Islamabad.

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