Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Abdul Rahman bin Hamad Al-Atiyyah says the regional bloc considers Pakistan an important partner and looks forward to establishing a free-trade area with it to bolster economic relations. In an interview with state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) in Islamabad, Al-Atiyyah expressed keen desire to have robust economic ties between the GCC and Pakistan to establish stronger partnership in other areas. The GCC secretary general recalled the strong traditional ties between Pakistan and the GCC countries in different fields that were constantly growing with the passage of time. Al-Atiyyah expressed a strong desire of the group to create a free-trade area with Pakistan. "Our cooperation will include harmonizing rules and procedures of customs and standards, elimination of unwarranted technical barriers and other measures to achieve a progressively liberal trade zone," he said. Al-Atiyyah conveyed GCC's appreciation for the expatriate Pakistanis who were playing an active role in numerous development fields. "We in GCC highly appreciates the active role by Pakistani expatriates despite a change in the region," he said adding that the six GCC members have sufficient power to guarantee its role as an effective and influential player along with neighboring countries. "The GCC strength is enhanced by the economic achievements of the Council and specially after the decisions made in Doha Summit in 2003 to establish GCC Custom Union, which will lead to monetary union and then a unified currency," Al-Atiyyah said. He said the GCC countries enjoy cohesive social fabric with the population that reject violence and endorse valued dialogue as a means to reach an agreement concerning challenges they face. In this context, Al-Atiyyah said, the GCC considers Pakistan an important and a reliable partner and believes that more stronger the Pakistan economy is, better it will be for the GCC countries.
