SUKKUR: US Consul General Michael Dodman has said that the US State Department will impose sanctions on Pakistan if it carries on work on the Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline Project. He added it was a clear policy of the US because Iran had violated the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty and was continuing nuclear proliferation.
He stated this while talking to selected journalists here at a local hotel on Monday.When asked that Pakistan as an independent country can chalk out a policy which suits it to address the energy crisis, he said that the Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline Project was against the US laws so they will not support Pakistan in this regard.

He said that the US wanted to see a stronger Pakistan as well as democracy. He said that Pakistan and Afghanistan have to talk about Pakistani and Afghan Taliban, which create problems between the two countries.

Talking about business and trade ties, he said that the US respects the Pakistani laws and gives free trade access to Islamabad without any duty.

The consul general said that the State Department had been motivating the US business community to invest in Pakistan. However, he said that the US business community had shown security concerns over the law and order situation in Pakistan. He added that there was no security concern in interior Sindh and that was why the State Department was making efforts to build up the confidence of the US business community for direct investment in Sindh and in this regard the focus was on Karachi Chamber of Commerce as well as the Sindh Board of Investment.

The consul general said that there were good crops of dates and rice in Sindh and pledged that the US was ready to import these items.He said that the State Department has planned to launch hydro electric projects in Pakistan, especially in Sindh, to address the energy crisis.

The official dispelled the impression that the US was behind the political instability in Pakistan.The US diplomat said that the US believes in having good relations with Pakistan and wanted to see a strong democracy here. He said that the US was not supporting any political party in the forthcoming elections. Dodman said that the US wants real democracy not a controlled one in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, US Consul General Michael Dodman paid a visit at Kot Diji Fort in Khairpur.On the occasion, he said that the US has launched many projects of assistance for the preservation and conservation of the archeological sites in Sindh

In the meantime, a press release issued by the US spokesman said the United States Consul General Michael Dodman and US Embassy Political Counselor Jonathan Pratt visited Sukkur and surrounding areas this week to strengthen ties with the people of Sindh, experience Sindhi culture and raise awareness of many US funded projects in the areas of education, health and economic growth.

During the visit, CG Dodman and Political Counselor Pratt visited Kot Diji Fort, IBA Sukkur and met with civil society, business, media and political leaders.

Speaking to the press, CG Dodman noted, �I have been impressed by the depth of local culture and the warmth of everyone I have met. It is a source of pride that the United States is providing tens of millions of dollars to support basic education in Sindh, construct new hospitals and rebuild flood damaged schools among many other projects.� CG Dodman is dedicated to strengthening the people-to-people ties between the United States and Pakistan and is deeply committed to deepening the economic engagement between our two countries. He promises to return to upper Sindh in the near future.

By The News International

 

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