Canadian MP calls for opening Indo-Pak border for trade
By Irfan Ghauri
ISLAMABAD: Jim Karygiannis, a Canadian parliamentarian, has called for opening the Pakistan-India border to boost trade ties between the two South Asian countries.
Speaking at a news conference on Monday he urged both governments to soften the international borders. ââ¬ÅUnless you are willing to make up yourself, it will never happen,ââ¬Â he said. He welcomed the decision to open the Line of Control (LoC), terming it the beginning of peaceful coexistence between the two countries. The visiting Canadian MP also welcomed President Pervez Musharrafââ¬â¢s decision to postpone the purchase of F-16 fighter jets to increase relief supplies to quake victims. He said the government of Pakistan must also cancel its plans of buying nuclear submarines from China and divert the money to the rehabilitation of quake victims.
ââ¬ÅI received a phone calls from my constituency Scarborough Agincourt, asking me why should they donate their money for Pakistan if it was spending huge amounts to purchase nuclear submarines at this timeââ¬Â. The government of Pakistan should divert this money to help thousands of destitute children in quake-hit areas, he added.
He urged the international community to step up aid for the quake victims, and said that Canada will raise the issue at international forums, requesting the world community to do more for the people of Pakistan. ââ¬ÅMany countries have committed to provide reconstruction aid, but the need is now. Food costs money, shelter costs money and the means of transporting this aid to victims costs money,ââ¬Â he said, adding that several countries had contributed to this aid, but many need to do more.
He said Canadaââ¬â¢s commitment was one of the highest per-capita, and urged every country to match Canadaââ¬â¢s per capita commitment. He said he visited some of the quake hit areas and met with NGOs and United Nations officials who told him that they were striving to make sure that every one of the over three million homeless receive the necessary food and shelter, however they are faced with an acute shortage of funds and resources.
ââ¬ÅWhat is most of the world waiting for? Winter is approaching, they should help now to save lives,ââ¬Â he sai. He appreciated the efforts of the Canadian Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART). He said four fully equipped hospitals were being run by DART and they had distributed more than 1 million litres of purified water to victims so far.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?p...-11-2005_pg7_46
By Irfan Ghauri
ISLAMABAD: Jim Karygiannis, a Canadian parliamentarian, has called for opening the Pakistan-India border to boost trade ties between the two South Asian countries.
Speaking at a news conference on Monday he urged both governments to soften the international borders. ââ¬ÅUnless you are willing to make up yourself, it will never happen,ââ¬Â he said. He welcomed the decision to open the Line of Control (LoC), terming it the beginning of peaceful coexistence between the two countries. The visiting Canadian MP also welcomed President Pervez Musharrafââ¬â¢s decision to postpone the purchase of F-16 fighter jets to increase relief supplies to quake victims. He said the government of Pakistan must also cancel its plans of buying nuclear submarines from China and divert the money to the rehabilitation of quake victims.
ââ¬ÅI received a phone calls from my constituency Scarborough Agincourt, asking me why should they donate their money for Pakistan if it was spending huge amounts to purchase nuclear submarines at this timeââ¬Â. The government of Pakistan should divert this money to help thousands of destitute children in quake-hit areas, he added.
He urged the international community to step up aid for the quake victims, and said that Canada will raise the issue at international forums, requesting the world community to do more for the people of Pakistan. ââ¬ÅMany countries have committed to provide reconstruction aid, but the need is now. Food costs money, shelter costs money and the means of transporting this aid to victims costs money,ââ¬Â he said, adding that several countries had contributed to this aid, but many need to do more.
He said Canadaââ¬â¢s commitment was one of the highest per-capita, and urged every country to match Canadaââ¬â¢s per capita commitment. He said he visited some of the quake hit areas and met with NGOs and United Nations officials who told him that they were striving to make sure that every one of the over three million homeless receive the necessary food and shelter, however they are faced with an acute shortage of funds and resources.
ââ¬ÅWhat is most of the world waiting for? Winter is approaching, they should help now to save lives,ââ¬Â he sai. He appreciated the efforts of the Canadian Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART). He said four fully equipped hospitals were being run by DART and they had distributed more than 1 million litres of purified water to victims so far.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?p...-11-2005_pg7_46