Pak-India ties: Let us work together for regional prosperity, says Kumar

Says the two countries should learn from each other’s experiences, meets Nawaz.

LAHORE:

We have to fight against poverty and hunger in the region instead of resorting to fighting amongst ourselves, the Chief Minister of the Indian state of Bihar Nitish Kumar said on Thursday

Speaking at a talk titled ‘Governance and Social Sector Development - Sharing of Experience between Punjab and Bihar’ at the Government College University (GCU), Kumar urged the neighbouring countries to work together to ensure prosperity in the region.

“We have a similar history and heritage. Time has come for us to let go of our past and move forward,” he said.

Terming lack of governance as the main problem faced by the region, Kumar defined good governance as a formative step in providing welfare to the people. He said that there is a need for both the countries to learn from each other’s experiences.

Elaborating on the issue of governance in his state, Kumar said that the government of Bihar has focused largely on the development of the agriculture and education sector.

He said that the state’s government has reduced the school dropout rate from 12.5% in 2005 to two per cent at present.

Kumar added that different measures were taken to ensure greater enrollment of girls in schools. He informed the audience that a cycle scheme was also introduced in the state which facilitated the mobility of school-going girls.

Comparing the two areas, he said there was a greater focus on developing rural areas in Bihar while in Punjab he said greater focus was on urban areas.

Speaking about his visit to Pakistan, CM Kumar said that during the past six days in the country he has witnessed great hospitality from the people.

“I did not feel alienated in the country at all because of the immense love I received here,” he said.

Saluting the efforts of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Kumar praised the current provincial government for promoting social welfare and hoped to implement similar initiatives in Bihar.

Also speaking on the occasion, Shahbaz Sharif reiterated that the Punjab government was taking measures to alleviate the problems of the people through putting in place a transparent system.

Chief Minister Punjab said that General Pervez Musharraf’s government indulged in high level corruption, which were contrary to his slogan of ‘Pakistan first’.

Speaking on Bihar, Sharif said the current government in the Indian state promoted accountability and transparency for which he congratulated his counterpart. He said Kumar was an experienced politician and lauded him for promoting good governance in Bihar.

Kumar also extended his invitation to Shahbaz Sharif to visit Bihar.

Kumar meets Nawaz

Nitish Kumar also met Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif at Jaati Umra.  Nawaz said that exchange of delegations and increasing trade relations between Pakistan and India are a good omen for bringing development and stability in the region.

He said that development opportunities exist in the Indo-Pak region and the destiny of the people can be changed by benefitting from these opportunities and resolving the existing issues between the two countries.

Nawaz appreciated the Bihar chief minister’s efforts for upholding law, provision of infrastructure, economic development and increase in annual growth rate in his state.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2012.