He said he was quite satisfied with his interaction with the high US officials including Deputy Secretary of State Bob Zoellick, Under Secretary Ambassador Josette Shiner and Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca. Ambassador Jehangir Karamat was also present in the meeting, which went ahead beyond the original half an hour.
"We discussed at length the trade and economic relations between Pakistan and the United States, the possible effects of the earthquake on the economy of Pakistan and President General Pervez Musharraf's request to President Bush for initiating free trade negotiations," said Humayun Akhtar Khan.
"It was a very positive discussion," the Commerce Minister told APP. "We worked on some fresh ideas as how to expedite the dialogue on improving our trade relations and to finish as soon as possible the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) that we are negotiating. I am quite satisfied with our interaction today with these people," he added.
Asked to comment on the earlier meeting he held with US Secretary of Commerce, Carlos Gutierrez at the Commerce Departments, the minister said, "the agenda was the same."
He said the Commerce Department protected the interests of the US industry, which was the most conservative element in the US set up.
"I feel very strongly that the economic relationship between Pakistan and the United States has to be looked at from a strategic point of view and the political and economic relationship must move in tandem because, they are both inter-linked."
Humayun Akhtar Khan said that he invited the US Commerce Secretary to head a delegation of businessmen to visit Pakistan.
Asked if a new date was set for trade and investment framework agreement (TIFA) meetings, he said he had requested the US government that he was quite receptive to putting some kind of a time constraint on these negotiations.
"And, I think, the response was fairly positive. So, we might he putting a time restriction within which the Bilateral Investment Treaty negotiations have to be completed."
To a query, the Commerce Minister said earthquake relief and reconstruction was generally discussed. He said, Assistant Secretary Rocca had just visited Pakistan, she was accompanying US officials and business leaders that had been appointed by President Bush.
"We are very grateful to the United States for the economic assistance it has provided, and their help in the relief efforts," the minister maintained.