KARACHI, April 23: The Socialist International has invited President Asif Ali Zardari to deliver a keynote address at its Congress in September.

The president accepted the invitation which was extended by Luis Ayala, Secretary General of Socialist International, who had called on him at Bilawal House on Monday.

President Zardari called upon the Socialist International, which has a large membership in the European Parliament, to strive for early implementation of a Pakistan-specific EU trade package, the Autonomous Trade Preference, announced by the European Union in response to the economic challenges faced by the country owing to the war on terror and the 2010 floods.

“Despite immense economic difficulties, we have opted for trade over aid to stabilise our economy in the face of the shocks caused by the war and natural calamities,” the president’s spokesman quoted him as saying.

He said economic stability was essential for strengthening democracy and the international community should assist the democratic set-up in bringing about socio-economic development that would help defeat militancy and advance the goals of freedom, justice and peace.

President Zardari said the government had taken a number of steps to empower the most vulnerable segments of the society, especially the Benazir Income Support Programme which was serving the poor women of the country.

He said the People’s Party had also focused on the labour class by empowering them and making them share-holders in state-run enterprises.

He said reinstatement of sacked workers, regularisation of contract labour, giving 12 per cent shares in state-run enterprises to the workers and allotting state land to poor women in the command areas of new dams were some of the major achievements of the democratic government.

The president said the PPP, which was a member of Socialist International, was continuing its march on the path of empowering people despite economic and other challenges.

”We will continue to support every effort for peace, stability and development in Afghanistan,” he said.

Mr Ayala lauded Pakistan’s role in the war against terrorism and its efforts to support peace efforts in Afghanistan.

He assured the president of continued support of Socialist International for getting more trade in the European markets.