PR. No. 152 PRESS RELEASE The Minister for Minorities, Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti met with Foreign Minister Franco Frattini today. Rome, 13 September, 2010  Mr. Frattini welcomed Mr. Bhatti and reiterated Italy’s support to Pakistan bilaterally as well as in the context of European Union and internationally. The Italian Foreign Minister stated that Italy was committed to inter-religious dialogue and harmony. He recalled President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to Italy and his meeting with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi whereby they had pledged to improve cooperation on the rights of minorities. He stated that his Government was particularly attached to this issue and had sponsored a European resolution on the subject. He expressed satisfaction that the European Foreign Ministers in their meeting a couple of days ago agreed on the need to provide immediate access to Pakistan of European markets. Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti briefed Mr. Frattini on the situation resulted from  unprecedented floods in Pakistan and thanked the Italian government for providing assistance to Pakistan. He underlined the need for continued Italian support during the rehabilitation and reconstruction phases. He elaborated various steps being taken by the Government to ensure the rights of minorities and promotion of inter-faith harmony particularly at the grassroots level. He specifically mentioned the steps being taken to establish inter-faith harmony committees at the district level. Foreign Minister Frattini commended the initiatives of the Government of Pakistan for inter-faith harmony and stated that these measures needs to be further highlighted. Mr. Frattini invited Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti to speak to a gathering of the 15 Foreign Ministers of the European Peoples Party, a group of Christian Democrats parties in Europe. Mr. Bhatti accepted the invitation. Foreign Minister Frattini informed that he plans to undertake a visit to Pakistan in October to formally announce the 80 million Euro relief package for Pakistan. Mr. Bhatti invited him to visit a model inter-faith relief camp established near Islamabad. Mr. Bhatti also requested for Italian assistance in the construction of dams. The Minister for Minorities Affairs is also meeting members of Parliaments, NGOs and Italian and international media.  PR. No. 153 Press Release German Economic Delegation to Visit Pakistan Berlin: September 13, 2010. A 21-member German economic delegation is visiting Pakistan from 14 - 17 September 2010. Mr. Claus Baron von Fersen, an expert representing German Oil & Gas Industry and Renewable Energy sector is leading the delegation that includes representatives of German business community as well as officials from Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and Near and Middle East Association (NUMOV). During the visit, German delegation would have meetings with the Karachi Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Pakistan German Business Forum in Karachi. In Islamabad, the delegation would meet representatives of Islamabad Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Officials of Board of Investment and Alternative Energy Development Board. The delegation would visit the Ministry of Commerce. Delegation members would also meet representatives of German companies that are doing business in Pakistan. The visit would provide the German business community an opportunity to explore possibility of enhancing trade and investment ties with companies in Pakistan. Visit of the German economic delegation would strengthen Pakistan’s economic relations with Germany. Germany is Pakistan’s largest trading partner among the EU countries. For Germany, Pakistan is a priority partner for development cooperation. PR. No. 154 PRESS RELEASE  Rome, 13 September, 2010   Minister for Minorities Affairs met with the leading Italian NGOs and their umbrella organizations today to discuss the contribution in the flood relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. The meeting was organized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the request of the Embassy of Pakistan. The Minister briefed the NGOs on the scale of devastation caused by the flood, the immediate relief requirements, the short term rehabilitation and long term reconstruction requirements. The Minister thanked the Italian NGOs for their contribution and urged them to mobilize greater support particularly through the Italian public and media to sustain this support in the next two phases.  2. The NGOs that are participated in the meeting are: INTERSOS, Cesvi, ISCOS CISL, Groce Rossa Italiana, PROSUD, Action Aid, Civil Protection, AGIRE, Italian NGO Association, AIFO. The representatives of the NGOs assured the Minister for Minorities Affairs of their continued engagements in relief and rehabilitation process in the flood affected areas of Pakistan.