Pakistani ambassador welcomes end of sanctions

Pakistan’s ambassador to the US today said the lifting of US sanctions against her country was ‘‘a very important development’’ that will enable Pakistan to receive much-needed aid.

The lifting of the sanctions ‘‘will enable Pakistan to get economic aid and it’s a very important development,’’ said Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan’s ambassador in Washington.

But Ameerul Azeem, a spokesman for the right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami, or Islamic Party, called the latest US overture to Pakistan ‘‘too little and too late’’.

‘‘Lifting of sanctions will not dampen the anti-American sentiment here. Our protests against Pakistan’s cooperation with America will continue.’’