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Clinton unlikely to announce any economic relief during Pak visit

ASIF FAROOQI

ISLAMABAD: United States President Bill Clinton is unlikely to announce any economic measures in Pakistan neither any of his delegation members are to sign economic related agreements during their brief stay in the country, Business Recorder learnt through credible US sources.

"We have no knowledge of any agreements being signed or any measures (economic) being announced," an Islamabad based US diplomat said while referring to Clinton visit to Islamabad which is schedule for Saturday.

The technical members of the official US delegation like commerce and energy secretaries and investment related officers are likely to be dropped out from New Delhi and would not join President Clinton to his Islamabad journey. During their stay in New Delhi and even at Dhaka, these officials have been busy discussing economic issues, investment opportunities, trade ties and other financial steps which the United States is keen to take in those countries.

Even President Clinton has announced doing away with some of the most important economic sanction on India.

"But prospects of any such activity in Pakistan are nil," US sources said while adding that chances of any "of the cup" announcement by the President for social sector relief could not be ruled out. "But there are no economic activities planned for the day through the US embassy in Islamabad," the sources added.

President Clinton plans to spend every moment of his stay in Islamabad discussing political issues with the Pakistani leadership ranging from non-proliferation to counter terrorism and regional peace. But this has not been the case in his India and Bangladesh visits as US and the two countries agreed on numerous trade and economic measures.