PM's Adress at G11 summit

[BATMAN]

PM asks G-11 countries to invest in human development, infrastructure

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DEAD SEA, (Jordan), May 19 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Saturday said the G-11 members countries should move towards the "second generation reforms" involving investments in infrastructure and human development. Addressing the second G-11 summit here, which was also attended by Jordan's King Abdullah, Prime Minister Aziz said the G-11 countries should now make investment in social sector improvements and creating knowledge-based economies.

Appreciating the proposed institutionalised cooperation between G-11 and G-8 countries, the Prime Minister said there was a need for closer collaboration with G-8 for increased market access and greater investment.

He said the G-11 forum provided a valuable opportunity to jointly review the individual progress and achievements made in economic and social fields.

Prime Minister Aziz said Pakistan fully supported the objectives and commitments set out for G-11, and welcomed cooperation among member countries in diverse areas such as information technology, tourism, trade and investment promotion.

He said the countries of South were playing a vital role in global economy, adding that South-South cooperation was becoming increasingly important.

Referring to the Millennium Development Goals, the Prime Minister said Pakistan would attain the poverty reduction target of 13 per cent by 2015. He said overall poverty which was 34.5 percent in 2001 was brought down to 23.9 percent in 2005.

He said Pakistan has allocated adequate resources for sustainable human development especially for education, health, enhance resource base and capacity of local government institutions for delivery of basic services.

Highlighting Pakistan's achievements, the Prime Minister said, "Our vision for Pakistan is a modern, developed and moderate Islamic welfare state through sustainable democracy and a knowledge-based economy."

He said in the last seven years Pakistan had been repositioned and revitalised through comprehensive and far-reaching reforms in political, economic and social sectors. "We have ensured good governance through transparency and accountability," he added.

The Prime Minister said democracy had been brought to the doorsteps of the people at district, provincial and national levels, and Pakistan had an active parliament, an independent judiciary and free media.

He said, "Our economic reforms are based upon deregulation, privatisation and liberalisation and we have become one of the fastest growing economies of Asia with a sustained growth rate of around 7 per cent for the last five years."

The size of the economy, he said, had doubled as per capita income while foreign reserves and the foreign direct investment reached unprecedented levels.

In social sector, he said, the focus was on empowering women and minorities, providing quality healthcare and universal education.

Expressing Pakistan's full commitment to the G-11 initiative, the Prime Minister said, "It is our collective responsibility to demonstrate the courage as well as the wisdom and foresight to transform the G-11 into a vibrant, progressive and prosperous organization."

 

[BATMAN]

PM's address at World Economic Forum largely appreciated

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AMMAN, May 19 (APP): The address of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz during the session on "Regional Stability" at the World Economic Forum for Middle East here was largely appreciated by representatives of the participating countries.There was sustained applause from the delegates as the Prime Minister declared that now the time has come to give the Palestinians their just rights.

Saudi Prince Turkey Al-Faisal appreciated the views of the Prime Minister that there was a need to take all stakeholders into confidence to resolve the issues of Palestine and Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz underscored that world powers including the United States should step forward and play their role in resolving the Palestine dispute.

He also said that foreign interference must be stopped to address the issues confronting the Middle East countries.

The response of the Prime Minister to various questions was highly lauded by the audience with clapping.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Prime Minister of Jordan Marouf Al-Bakhit, Iranian Foreign Minister Manochehr Motakki, UAE leader Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa and Saudi Prince Turkey Al-Faisal also addressed on the occasion.