KARACHI, Jan 3: The Governor, Central Bank of Afghanistan Dr. Anwar Ahadi said on Saturday that Afghan government was determined to improve security and develop infrastructure in the country and hoped within a year , Afghanistan would be "an attractive country for investment and economic activities" for Pakistanis as well as other international investors.

Delivering a lecture at Shaheed ZA Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST), Karachi on "Prospects of Greater Economic Integration between Afghanistan and Pakistan", he said that international community's pledge to transform Afghanistan into a modern, democratic and liberal country was being materialized by the Afghan authorities.

"Economic integration between Pakistan and Afghanistan is highly desirable, feasible and in the interest of both the countries," he maintained and urged local traders and investors to get benefit from tremendous economic opportunities and incentives being offered by the current Afghanistan government.

Terming Pakistan as one of the largest trade partner of Afghanistan, he said considerable business opportunities for Pakistani traders and investors exist in his country owing to formulation of liberal banking laws, provision of economic liberty, improvement in law and order situation and infrastructure development.

He talked in length about security situation in the war-torn country and said with the commencement of disarmament movement and formulation of national police force and national army, law and order situation would come under control to a large extent and country would become a "safe haven" for foreign investors.

Dr. Ahadi said that highways linking major Afghan cities of Qandahar, Jalalabad and Mazar-e-Sharif with capital Kabul were under-construction while telecommunication links were being restored in addition to initiation of power-generation projects with financial and technical assistance from neighbouring countries.

Claiming that Afghan economy was "most fast growing economies" in the world, he contended that their GDP increased 30 and 20 per cent in 2002 and 2003 respectively with the help of foreign financial assistance and exploration of country's indigenous resources.

Dr. Ahadi maintained that country's agriculture production increased by 60 per cent since fall of Taliban regime as both the government and people in addition to international community were "sincere and determined" in transforming post-Taliban Afghanistan into a modern, democratic and economically sound country.

Giving details of steps taken by Afghan government for revival of economy, he said that 6 international banks including two Pakistani banks have been issued licence to start operation in Afghanistan and adding these are free to take their independent decisions regarding their activities.

He urged Pakistani traders, investors and industrialists to invest in consumer-goods production sector and adding his government was offering remarkable facilities and opportunities to investors from Pakistan.

He concluded that trade and economic relations between the two countries should be based on economic interests of each other instead of "political goodwill", which fails to bring any major change in the situation.-PPI