October 3, 2003	Friday	Sha’aban 6, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 2: The Asian Development Bank has urged the Pakistan government to create job opportunities, control poverty and attract foreign as well as domestic investment.

“The worsening poverty situation in Pakistan needs foremost attention of the government. It requires radical measures for achieving pro-poor growth,” said ADB Country Director Marshuk Ali Shah.

Talking to Dawn on Wednesday, he said poverty, employment and “static” foreign and domestic investment were a matter of concern for the ADB.

He said Pakistan could not attain high level of growth without substantially inviting foreign and local investment. “Investment has been static and the government needs to look into it seriously,” Mr Shah said.

In reply to a question, the country director said there were structural problems that needed to be removed for achieving better GDP growth rate. This growth, he pointed out, substantially depended on agriculture. But, he said, Pakistan should improve the manufacturing sector for achieving broad-based growth. The manufacturing sector, he added, would have to play a vital role rather than the agriculture sector which was always at the mercy of weather and timely rains.

“Political issues are very important and there is an urgent need to remove stalemate over the Legal Framework Order,” he said.