ISLAMABAD, Mar 16: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday formally inaugurated the Islamabad Dry Port (IDP) to handle import and export consignments to and from upcountry areas.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, the prime minister said the IDP would also be helpful in enhancing the delivery of the building materials needed for reconstruction of the quake- affected areas of Azad Kashmir and the NWFP.

Work on the dry port had started four years ago. It was completed recently and put to operation to handle containers, particularly those destined to northern areas.

Mr Aziz said the IDP would also facilitate the flow of goods from Karachi to Islamabad and help expedite the export goods to Karachi.

He appreciated the cooperation and efforts of Pakistan Railways, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) in implementing the IDP project. He was confident the IDP would prove to be a hub of economic activities in the northern Pakistan.

The prime minister said the logistic chain of the country, including roads, railway and ports, should be of world class standards to boost trade and economic activities. The government has been working on projects to improve the logistic chain to provide prompt and efficient transport facilities for goods movement.

Shaukat Aziz said rapid economic growth had caused a shortage of skilled persons in the country and added that the government had prepared a plan to train people in skills to bridge the gap.

Strong and sustained economic growth over the last several years was underpinned by the government’s economic philosophy of deregulation, liberalization and privatization, and truly home grown, wide-ranging and deep structural reforms, he reminded.

The prime minister said continuity, consistency and transparency in his government’s policies had increased domestic demand, regained private sector’s confidence and improved fiscal discipline.

Pakistan has been included among the top 10 countries for structural reforms success in the region, he said.

Also Pakistan’s credibility in the world has increased due to the success of its structural reforms, he said and added that Moodys improved Pakistan’s rating on Wednesday.

Referring to improvement in the road network, the prime minister said the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway project would be completed by next year, providing a prompt and efficient road link between northern and southern parts of the country.