April 28, 2007	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 10, 1428

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ISLAMABAD, April 27: Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar has informed the house that the government has obtained external loans of $5.11 billion and internal loans of Rs524 billion during the last three years.

She said foreign loans and liabilities had increased by 3.16 per cent between June 30 and Dec 31, 2006. Answering a question, she said the sixth population and housing census would be carried out in October next year.

Minister of State for Finance Omer Ayub Khan said the government had implemented reforms in various sectors, including agriculture, SMEs, petroleum, housing and information technology.

He said due to the measures, the country had maintained the GDP growth rate at an average of 7 per cent which, he claimed, had increased per capita income from $582 in 2002 to $847 in 2006.

Answering a question, he said the government would double the allocation for education as percentage of GDP by 2012.

Minister for Investment Zahid Hamid told the house that the Board of Investment had taken measures to enhance foreign direct investment in the country.

Responding to a call-attention notice, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sher Afgan said Rs20 billion had been allocated for development projects in the NWFP during the current financial year.

The notice had been moved by Sher Akbar Khan and other members who alleged that the NWFP had not been allocated funds from the Khushhal Pakistan Programme-II.