20 January 2005	Thursday	09 Zilhaj 1425

ISLAMABAD, Jan 19: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said it is imperative to strike a balance between population and resources to improve quality of life of the people.

He was talking to Minister for Population Welfare Chaudhry Shahbaz Hussain at the Prime Minister's House.

The prime minister underlined the need for greater awareness at public level regarding consequences of rapid population growth. He said the ministry had to be given enough resources in order to improve the situation. Mr Hussain apprised the prime minister about various initiatives launched by his ministry to stabilize population growth at a reasonable level.

He said population programme had been successful in reducing growth rate from 2.6 per cent to 1.9 per cent per annum and it was expected that it would be brought down further. He extended an invitation to the prime minister to inaugurate the population house in Islamabad.

LAW MINISTER: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said access to quick and inexpensive justice is one of the major planks of the reforms agenda being pursued by the government.

He was talking to Minister for Law and Justice Mohammad Wasi Zafar at the Prime Minister's House on Wednesday. The prime minister hoped that as a result of legal reforms currently being implemented by the government people would be able to get access to justice quickly.

He said the government would continue to make efforts for upholding rule of law in the country. Mr Zafar discussed matters relating to law reforms and said his ministry had proposed separate disposal of civil and criminal cases.

Minister of State for Health Begum Shahnaz Sheikh also called on the prime minister and apprised him of the measures being taken for improving and expanding health care system in the country.

Talking to Ms Sheikh, the prime minister observed that only healthy children could give rise to a healthy nation. Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Yaqub Khan and MNA Rais Munir also called on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz at the Prime Minister's House.

Meanwhile, talking to a group of investors of Pakistani origin from the European Union, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said investment climate in the country was very conducive and expat Pakistanis must avail opportunities available for investment in their homeland.

The prime minister said economic reforms and continuity of policies had helped in achieving a turn around in the economy which was growing fast and was poised for even higher growth rates. -APP