News
Monday, August 05, 2013
Nawaz stresses resumption of stalled talks between Pak, India* PM says both countries should focus on investing in social infrastructure instead of spending hugely on arms
JEDDAH: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that Pakistan and India should sit down for serious talks on lingering issues for the benefit of their people.
He said this while talking to members of the Pakistan Journalists Forum, who called on him at his residence to congratulate him on assuming the office of prime minister for the third time. Nawaz said that instead of spending hugely on arms, both the countries should focus on investing in social infrastructure for the benefit of their people. Terming the recently announced Gwadar-Kashghar economic corridor a game changer, he said that special industrial zones would be set up in Gwadar to facilitate foreign investment.
The prime minister said the development of Gwadar Port and the proposed economic corridor would change the dynamics of the region and expressed hope that the project would help boost economic activities in the region. He said Gwadar would emerge as the future economic hub of the region and would not only benefit Pakistan but also India, Afghanistan and the Central Asian states. Touching upon the economic problems of the country, Prime Minister Nawaz said the foremost priority of his government is to boost economic activities in the country and check the menace of terrorism.
About the energy crisis, he said “we have carefully studied every possible option and are confident that in the next three or three-and-a-half years we will be in position to meet not only our actual energy demands but will also produce surplus electricity”. He said his government has taken measures to check line losses and electricity theft and those steps had yielded results. The prime minister said his government is making progress on Thar coal power project and focusing on construction of new dams.
Regarding terrorism, he said the government is willing to take all possible measures to check terrorism and root out seeds of sectarianism. On his recent talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry, he said that both sides expressed their concerns in a frank manner. He said that honest handling will help resolve issues. The prime minister expressed his resolve to make efforts for the restoration of peace in Afghanistan and to help facilitate the Doha peace process.
Prime Minister Nawaz, who is currently in Saudi Arabia along with his family to perform Umrah, spent Sunday night at Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH) and offered prayers. Earlier, when the prime minister arrived at the Madina airport from Jeddah he was received by Madina governor and other high officials. The prime minister and his family members offered special prayers for the security, progress and prosperity of the country and well-being of the Ummah. Nawaz is accompanied by his mother Shamim Akthar, spouse Kulsum Nawaz, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, son Hussain Nawaz and other family members. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk