ADVISER to Prime Minister on Finance Shaukat Tarin has said Pakistan will go forwards hand in hand with the US to look for a bright future. Addressing a press conference in Washington late on Monday, Tarin said focus would be set on trade with the US in various sectors. He further said Pakistan would negotiate with the US to enhance cooperation in the sectors of power and gas. The Adviser said the government had withdrawn subsidy in various sectors through macro-economy and would continue to do so in other sectors as well. He said the government could not afford to provide further subsidies at this stage. He assured that petrol and gas prices were not being increased. He also confessed that power and agriculture sectors had not been given due attention, and the government would have to focus on these departments soon. "Country's manufacturing and trade sectors needed a special focus in order to cope with the trying situation of economy," he said, adding that mineral resources including copper and coal would be used to counter energy crises. He said steps would be taken soon to boost human resource banking in the country. APP adds: Adviser on Finance Shaukat Tarin has underscored Pakistan's development requirements in a host of fields as he met Sunday leaders of international financial institutions, who expressed appreciation for the government's efforts towards economic stability. Tarin, leading the Pakistani delegation at the World Bank-IMF annual gathering, also had a meeting with Iranian Finance Minister Dr Shamseddin Husseini and discussed efforts to promote bilateral cooperation in various fields including oil and gas as well as trade. At a meeting with Lars H Thunnel, Executive Vice President International Finance Corporation, the adviser spoke of Pakistan's development needs in infrastructure, mega dams, energy and financial sector reforms. The IFC leader applauded Pakistan's economic stabilisation programme and reassured expansion of its portfolio in Pakistan in the areas of infrastructure development, energy including dams and financial sector reforms as well as privatisation in Pakistan. The adviser to prime minister also met Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund and discussed with him the current global financial crisis and its impact on developed and developing countries, the strategy of IFIs to handle the crisis and regulatory regime proposed to avoid such recurrences in the future. The communique issued by G-7 Finance Ministers also came under discussion. The IMF Chief lauded the hard decisions that have been taken by Pakistan to eliminate subsidies, improve tax revenues and manage expenditure. Tarin also met senior officials of the rating agencies - Standard and Poor's and Moody's - and apprised them of the democratic government's programme to meet current challenges and stabilise the economy. Earlier, the adviser represented Pakistan at the World Bank Development Committee meeting.