ISLAMABAD, June 29: President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, have time and again emphasized on Pakistan’s commitment to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Afghanistan. This was stated by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenues Dr Salman Shah while speaking as chief guest at the handing-over ceremony of 23 buses to Afghanistan here on Wednesday.

Minister for Communication Shamim Siddiqi and Minister for Transport in Afghanistan Inayatullah Qasmi were also present on the occasion.

Dr Salman Shah said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz during his visit to Kabul in January 2004 had announced the donation of 100 buses and 200 trucks to Afghanistan to meet immediate logistics and transportation requirements for the people of Afghanistan.

He added that 200 trucks had already been handed over to Afghanistan last year.

Regarding buses, he said the first batch of 35 buses was handed over by the Prime Minister at a ceremony held here on April 21, to the Afghan Minister for Works.

The second batch of 42 buses, he said, was handed over by the Director-General, Planning and Development Division, to the Afghan officials on June 11 at Peshawar.

Dr Salman said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had also donated 45 ambulances to Afghanistan and five of those would be delivered tomorrow.

In addition, he said a large number of projects, including education, health and other social sectors were being executed by the Pakistan, in different regions of Afghanistan. These projects, the adviser said, were at different stages of implementation. He said all these projects would be completed well in time.

The adviser said with the handing over of these buses, the $100 million aid announced by the government to Afghanistan would be completed. Dr Salman Shah said the type and diversification of these projects would indicate the importance that the government of Pakistan gave to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan.

This is a humble effort towards Reconstruction/Rehabilitation of our brotherly country, but it includes a tremendous amount of love, affection and good wishes from the people of Pakistan towards the brotherly people of Afghanistan, Dr Shah remarked. Talking to newsmen after the ceremony, Inayatullah Qasmi, Minister for Transport, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan thanked the government and people of Pakistan for their generous help towards people of Afghanistan.—APP