August 13, 2002	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Saani 3, 1423

KARACHI, Aug 12: Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that India in a bid to cripple Pakistan economy, mounted pressure on the border but failed terribly as the country’s steady growth continued to witness gains last year.

He was speaking at the ceremony of “Best Finance Minister Award” conferred upon him by a former president of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Latif Ibrahim on Saturday night. The award was arranged by 22 trade and industrial organizations and 25 senior business leaders.

The minister said that during the last three years Pakistan, which was in the worst economic crisis of its history, proved the world that the sincerity, commitment and team-work could do miracles.

He said when he was contacted by the present government to accept the assignment of finance minister, he consulted his friends, and everybody asked him not to go Pakistan as the economic affairs in their opinion were beyond repair.—APP