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| Sunday, 9 October 2005 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Pakistan's
phenomenal success
Zahoor Ahmad Barlas, Press Attache, High Commission of Pakistan, in reply to certain comments regarding Pakistan made by columnist Wendell Solomons in his column "Solemn Thoughts" titled "Must India invest in Great Wall", published on an issue of September 25, 2005 says the following: "As the learned writer has built his arguments on a totally false premise it is absolutely necessary to put the facts before the readers so that they are not misled into wrong conclusions. "Pakistan has maintained a phenomenal GDP growth of 8.4% for the third consecutive year, second to China only in the region. The per capita income is $736. The Large Scale Manufacturing, agriculture and services sectors registered a growth higher than the targets. The Karachi Stock Market remained one of the five best performing markets around the world during last year. Government's economic policies have already helped raise the country's profile as a dynamic and vibrant emerging market for investment. The World Bank in its recent report", Doing Business in 2006" has noted: "Pakistan was the top reformer in the region and the number 10 reformer globally - making it easier to start a business, reducing the cost to register property, increasing penalties for violating corporate governance rules, and replacing a requirement to license every shipment with two-year duration licences for traders". "Pakistan also made a formidable impact in the World Economic Forum this year. The Statesman of India has acknowledged this fact in the following words: "In terms of sheer presence and networking skills, the consensus is that Pakistan has stolen the march at this prestigious meeting of global captains". "In the defence, the government is pursuing a policy based on maintaining a credible deterrence through strategic and conventional capabilities. Successful test of the indigenously developed state of the art cruise missile; co-production with China of JS-17 fighter jets, production of Al-Khalid and up-gradation of Al-Zarar tanks, reactivation of the Submarine Rebuild Complex are some of the milestones achieved recently. "Pakistan's armed forces are respected the world over for their professional skills, dedication and discipline. They have made valuable contribution, on behalf of their country Pakistan, in the international campaign against terrorism. Pakistan is the largest troop contributing country for UN peacekeeping operations. On the political front, most earnest endeavours have been made by the government aimed at fortifying foundations of democracy and restoring supremacy of the Parliament, protecting civil liberties and human rights, providing citizens socio-economic justice, and promoting a tolerant and vibrant society. Efforts have been made to strengthen the legislative process in the Parliament, to ensure that both Houses of the Parliament perform their functions effectively in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and within the framework of relevant rules and procedures, and that their proceedings are conducted in the best traditions of parliamentary democracy. As part of government's devolution plan and to strengthen democracy at
the grass roots level, local bodies' elections have recently been held.
Political and economic empowerment of women remains in focus by ensuring
their representation at all levels of political set-up. |
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