PESHAWAR, April 19: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has called upon the Japanese government to facilitate the transfer of automobile technology to the Frontier province because of better future prospects in the region.
He was speaking at the launching ceremony of the Hino-500 series of trucks and buses at the Nishtar Hall here on Monday. Hino-Pak Motors Managing Director Chika Hero and Director Sales and Marketing Mohammad Irfan Shaikh were also present on the occasion.
The chief minister said that with the opening of the Central Asian Republics, and peace and normalcy coming back to Afghanistan, the Frontier province had assumed a strategic advantage. "It is a region that would link central Asia, south Asia and other regions," he said.
He said that the Frontier government was working all out to improve the road communication infrastructure in the province. "We have limited resources and the task is gigantic. Therefore, we look to our economic partners to translate this plan into reality through the provision of resources and technical expertise," he remarked.
Referring to the Kohat tunnel project, the chief minister said that work on the Lowari tunnel would get underway soon. He said that some major projects were in the pipeline that would widen, improve and rehabilitate the communication sector in the province. Trade and economic activities would get impetus and the people would have jobs, he added.
Durrani appreciated the launching of new heavy vehicular technology in the Frontier province and termed the introduction of CNG engines in the heavy vehicles an achievement.
With the dualization of Torkham-Jalalabad road and Bannu-Ghulam Khan-Gardez road, there would be an astronomical increase in the trade and economic activities on both sides of the tribal divide. Engagements by the Japanese government would pay appropriately, he said.
He said: "We have attractive efforts by foreign and domestic entrepreneurs intending to invest in the automobile sector in Frontier province, but every one in the field should come with a matching offer.
The chief minister termed Japanese government a good economic friend and to further reinforce the existing economic ties it should help the Frontier government in this sector and also enhance the level of friendship through engaging in roads improvement in the province.
Durrani also referred to the discontinuation of economic assistance to Pakistan by the Japanese government after the 9/11 episode, but now the existing level of cooperation should be improved, he said.