Business

Iqbal lauds govt’s efforts

Says Pakistan attracting foreign investors due to positive policies

APP May 21, 2017

Addressing a National Excellency Awards distribution ceremony, Iqbal said that while policies were not responsible for failure, political disability had damaged the economy in the past. PHOTO: INP

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal said several international investors are eager to pour money in Pakistan due to positive economic policies of the government.

Addressing a National Excellency Awards distribution ceremony organised by the Young Engineers Council on Engineers Day here, he said that while policies were not responsible for failure, political disability had damaged the economy in the past.

Iqbal said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has also approved internships for 20,000 engineers and these are being planned for the next financial year when 100,000 youths would be trained in the information technology sector.

He added that participation of 65 countries in the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) Conference was an example of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’s success. “Close to 100 countries have requested to join the project. China wants to make Pakistan an industrial economy,” Iqbal said.

The minister said the biggest investment in history was being made in the energy sector in Pakistan. “Only 16,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity has been produced in 66 years of the country’s history while 10,000MW will be added to the national grid between 2014 and 2018,” he added.

Iqbal said resources have been expanded in the country and progress can be witnessed in every sector. He said the Lahore-Karachi motorway project would be completed in 2018, while an infrastructure revolution in Balochistan had been achieved due to the construction of roads and highways.

“Roads are the first step to progress and prosperity as they are helpful in eliminating poverty and ignorance,” he said. The minister said ground-breaking power projects were in the last phase of completion, adding that Thar Coal project could produce energy for 400 years.

“2,000MW electricity will be produced till 2020-2021 from nuclear power plant which will be able to produce energy round the year,” he added.

He said fi political stability is maintained Pakistan would be among the 25 big economies by 2025.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2017.

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