ISLAMABAD, DEC 7, SPA -- A special envoy of Pakistan has made a strong case in the United States for increasing H-1 B visas for Pakistani professionals. Ms Kashmala Tariq, visiting Washington as part of a delegation, hammered this point in meetings with members of US Congress and urged understanding and support for Pakistan in the transition period, according to a message received in Islamabad. I call for a much larger share of H-1 B visas for Pakistani professionals, who are as talented. I emphasize that Pakistanis must not lag behind in the area and must be treated in accordance with size of the population of their country in respect of US visas for professionals, she said. Pakistan, Ms Tariq said, has highly skilled youth to make major strides in information technology and other fields like other countries in the region. She said the US lawmakers promised to look into the subject. As part of a three-member delegation of special envoys, Ms Tariq met with key members of American Senate and House of Representatives on the Hill and advocated that Pakistan must maintain the momentum of economic development attained under President Pervez Musharraf over the years as it would help the country confront challenges facing it. Pakistan needs stability and progress, we need understanding and support from our friends at this critical time as we are not only making progress economically but also combating terrorism in the interest of regional and world peace and for our own security she earlier told a Washington think tank, Center for Strategic and International Studies. Economic development, she underscored, is the key to grappling with problems facing the region.--MORE www.spa.gov.sa/506964