PM seeks help for mega-project: PDF meeting begins
By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, March 17: Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Wednesday sought cooperation and assistance from donors to undertake mega-infrastructure projects, saying the process of a composite dialogue with India had created a conducive environment for investment and accelerated economic activities in the region.
Addressing the 5th session of the Pakistan Development Forum, Mr Jamali said Pakistan had initiated the process of a composite dialogue with India. "Our war against terrorism continues to bring peace and stability to the region," he said.
The prime minister identified some of the mega-projects the country had planned and asked donors to support these projects for their speedy completion. He said the construction of Gwadar port, development of a coastal highway and building of a road network to link Gwadar to northern areas of Pakistan as well as to Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics would benefit the region and Pakistan by opening a new access route to Arabian Sea for the landlocked countries.
"We are also cognizant of the importance of other mega-projects. Gomal Zam Dam, Mirani Dam, Satpara Dam projects of northern areas and national drainage programme...we are actively seeking cooperation of our development partners, both bilateral and multilateral, to speedily bring these projects to completion," said the prime minister.
He said the war against terrorism had not ended and Pakistan continued to extend all support to the international community in this regard. He referred to major challenges like reducing poverty, improving governance, creating employment opportunities and improving social indicators which, he said, remained to be overcome.
He said economic growth with job creation topped the government agenda for which emphasis was being laid on agriculture development and housing and construction. He said attention was being paid to the industrial sector for creating job opportunities, which alone would have the desired effect on the efforts to reducing poverty.
The PDF meeting, formerly known as Aid-to-Pakistan Consortium, will continue for three days. Some 40 delegates from the World Bank, IMF, Asian Development Bank and the representatives of Pakistan's bilateral donors have arrived in Pakistan. President Gen Pervez Musharraf will conclude the meeting on Friday.
