Pakistan’s drive to overcome its chronic energy shortages received a boost when France expressed willingness to transfer civilian nuclear technology to the South Asian country to meet its energy requirements. This was decided during the talks between the visiting Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and his French counterpart Nicholas Sarkozy here Friday. Briefing media about the meeting, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the negotiations regarding the transfer of civil nuclear technology will be held in July this year and a new framework agreement and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is likely to be signed during the visit of the French President to Pakistan in September.

Qureshi further said France has also agreed to provide 300 million Euros in assistance to Pakistan in addition to 12 million Euros for the internally displaced persons fleeing the Swat unrest. He spoke of Pakistan’s keenness to further develop and strengthen both its existing trade and commercial ties as well as defence relations with France which is an important country within the European Union.

The Foreign Minister described France as a very important trading partner of Pakistan and expressed his country’s desire to upgrade its relations in different sectors. Qureshi spoke about the next month’s EU-Pakistan summit in Brussels and was hopeful that France would support his country in getting greater market access for its produce. The Foreign Minister said in his recent talks with his British counterpart David Miliband in London, the UK has promised to extend similar support to Pakistan.

He said Islamabad was desirous of enhancing its economic relations with Paris. He also noted immense possibilities of co-operation between the two countries that exist in the Defence sector and said Pakistan was keen to further explore opportunities in the defence production.

Last year, the two countries signed Defence collaboration plan under which both countries agreed to accelerate military cooperation between the two countries. The plan also envisaged exchange of technical expertise to boost level of cooperation in technological matters and its transfer for capacity building of Pakistan Armed Forces. France has helped Pakistan construct three submarines in the recent past while a major component of PAF warplanes comprise French built Mirage jet fighters.
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