UN chief to visit Pakistan

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Source: CCTV.com | 02-04-2009 13:49

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will arrive in Islamabad later today for an official visit. Ban's visit includes a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, pictured here on  February 2, was on Wednesday due to visit Pakistan. (AFP/File/Simon Maina)

The threat posed to Pakistan and Afghanistan by a seemingly growing Taliban insurgency in both countries is likely to be at the top of the UN chief's agenda.

Pakistan has said the United Nations will help organize an international effort to overcome the country's massive security and economic problems.

Pakistan took a 7.6 billion US dollar bailout last year from the International Monetary Fund. The UN has agreed to help organize programmes to be funded by countries, including the US and Germany, to help the Pakistani government. Many think the UN can play an important role in the country's quest for stability.

Dr. Ishtiaqahmed, Quaid-I-Azam University, said, "It is very significant because Pakistan, especially Pakistan's tribal regions and Afghanistan, are facing a very severe security threat and this security threat keeps worsening and it needs a proactive engagement of the United Nations because United Nations is a global, truly representative of the global community."

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Editor:Zhang Yun