Hillary asks Pakistan to bring rich into tax net

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Pakistan Thursday to ensure that wealthy Pakistanis contribute to overcoming the devastation caused by this summer's floods. ''It is absolutely unacceptable for those with means in Pakistan not be doing their fair share to help their own people,'' Clinton said after meeting with Catherine Ashton, the EU foreign and security affairs chief. Saying ''the international community can only do so,'' she urged the government in Islamabad to ''take immediate and substantial action to mobilise its own resources'' for the immense task of reconstructing schools, health clinics, bridges, thousands of kilometres of roads and repair new irrigation systems. She and Ashton met for about 45 minutes and told reporters afterward the United States, Europe and others are standing by Pakistan.On Friday, the EU hosts a meeting here of ''Friends of Democratic Pakistan,'' a group of two dozen nations and institutions that are committed to Pakistan's recovery from the devastating floods. The EU and its member states have to date contributed nearly $450 million toward relief and recovery efforts. The EU has also extended trade benefits to Pakistan. To date, the US has provided $388 million in aid and another $75 million in logistical and other support. Clinton insisted that much remains to be done in a country that faces an acute threat from terrorists. ''The progress (the EU and the US) have made together toward fostering stability and prosperity in Pakistan is threatened by the catastrophic damage caused by the floods,'' she said.''So the United States is all the more committed to helping Pakistan rebuild, swiftly and successfully.''''A safe, secure and stable Pakistan is essential to our shared fight against terrorism and to protect the security of the people of our country and friends and allies,'' Clinton added.