06 March 2004	Saturday	14 Muharram 1425

PESHAWAR, March 5: Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah has stressed the need for boosting land route trade with Afghanistan, saying that the trade between the two countries through the land route is booming and will soon cross one billion rupees.

He expressed the hope that this would positively affect the country's economy. Talking to participants of the 80th National Management Course of Administrative Staff College, Lahore, who called on him at the Governor's House on Thursday night, he said the province had persistently been facing the disadvantage of geographic location, but it would now be turned into advantage through trade with Afghanistan.

He also referred to government's efforts to open traditional trade routes with Afghanistan and said that trade facilities at the Torkham border were being improved.

Similarly, he said, such facilities were also being provided at the Ghulam Khan border crossing besides improving the Kohat-Parachinar road to have another alternative trade route with Afghanistan.

He said that owing to centuries-old traditional friendship and brotherhood with the people of Afghanistan which had been further cemented during the past more than 25 years, "we should deal with that country as our extended market and take all advantages of these peculiar circumstances. We must move forward on these lines."

Pakistan, he said, was taking active part in the reconstruction of Afghanistan and in this connection he also mentioned the project of reconstruction of the Torkham-Jalalabad road which was funded by Pakistan.

The governor also briefed the delegation on the strategic importance as well as political and administrative setup in Fata. Regarding socio-economic conditions in tribal areas the governor said that massive development programme was required to bring these areas on a par with other developed parts of the country.

As regard the system of governance in Fata, the governor said that alien rulers for their own benefits devised the prevalent system and they were least interested in the welfare and well-being of local communities.

On a question, the governor said that social issues could only be addressed through promotion of education. "Therefore, we have focused mainly on education development. In Fata, there were 10 degree colleges some one year ago but now the number has risen to 30 by the end of June this year," the governor said.