ISLAMABAD, Nov 29: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Wednesday that reconstruction opportunity zones (ROZs) would be set up across the country to alleviate poverty and improve living standards of the people.

Chairing a meeting to review progress in ROZs, the prime minister said the ROZs will greatly transform the less developed areas by strengthening infrastructure, generating economic activities and creating more jobs and better facilities of life for the people of these areas.

Commerce Secretary Syed Asif Shah gave a detail presentation on the progress in ROZs programme. The briefing was attended by Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan and Minister for Industries Jahangir Khan Tareen.

US President George W. Bush had accepted the Pakistani proposal of ROZs in his last visit to Pakistan. Mr Bush had announced that the trade zones established in the remote areas (tribal and border) would get duty free access on goods exported to the US market.

The premier emphasised the need for providing skills training to the people of the areas where ROZs were to be set up in order to improve their prospects for getting employment.

The premier was informed that the commerce ministry was actively pursuing the proposal to set up ROZs with the US authorities and it was hoped that legislation on the programme, including the exact locations of the ROZs and products to be manufactured there, will be finalised soon between Pakistani and the US authorities.