Hillary Clinton and Cathy Ashton's call for economic reform in Pakistan
Pakistan must take charge. This is the joint message sent by the High Representative of the EU and Hillary Clinton on Thursday, on the eve of the meeting of "friends of Pakistan" in Brussels. While the EU's chief diplomat remained ... very diplomatic, the US Secretary of State was particularly direct (1): " Pakistan itself must take immediate and significant steps to mobilize its own resources, and in particular to reform its economy.. “And to add:” The most important step Pakistan can take is to push through meaningful reforms that will broaden the tax base. The government must demand that the elite and wealthy in Pakistan support the government and the people of Pakistan. We have been very clear about this. And I'm glad the government responded. I know how difficult it is, but it is absolutely unacceptable that those with means in Pakistan do not do their fair share in helping their own people while taxpayers in Europe, the United States, and other countries break their piggy bank".
(1) Pakistan itself must take immediate and substantial action to mobilize its own resources, and in particular to reform its economy. The most important step that Pakistan can take is to pass meaningful reforms that will expand its tax base. The government must require that the economically affluent and elite in Pakistan support the government and people of Pakistan. We have been very clear on that, and I am pleased that the government is responding. I know how difficult this is, but it is absolutely unacceptable for those with means in Pakistan not to be doing their fair share to help their own people while the taxpayers of Europe, the United States, and other contributing countries are all chipping in to do our part.