Pak pins hope on France in quest of nuclear technology for energy requirements

Islamabad, Oct 7 : Pakistan has pinned hopes of getting nuclear help from France after the French government's statement that "every country had the right to use nuclear energy" for peaceful civilian purposes.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said that his government hopes that France will assist it by providing nuclear technology to meet its energy requirements.

At a meting with visiting Military Joint Chief of Staff to President of France Admiral Edouard Guillaud, Gilani said that Pakistan attached high importance to its relations with France - one of its leading trading and development partners in the European Union. The premier said that the strategic consultations between the two countries should soon be resumed.

"Leaving out Pakistan is discriminatory," Gilani said, and added that he hoped French President Nicholas Sarkozi would visit Pakistan by the end of this year.

Defence co-operation between Pakistan and France had "progressed satisfactorily", the PM said and added that Pakistan now had the largest fleet of Mirage III and V aircraft.

He also praised the French assistance for assembling the AGOSTA submarine in Pakistan.

ANI