News
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Pakistan needs trade, not aid: Nawaz to world* PM tells forum at UN his govt investing maximum time and energy in indirect interventions to and take economic growth from present 3.6% to 7% in next 5 years
NEW YORK: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday that trade was the path to economic development and not aid since the latter fosters dependency.
Addressing the high-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development as a keynote speaker, Nawaz said the development agenda should not be based on aid alone.
The prime minister was invited by the president of UN General Assembly to share his ideas and suggestions on the issue of global partnerships for development to create jobs and improve sustainable lifestyles.
Nawaz said that he was an advocate of trade and not aid. He added he was against aid because it creates dependency and stunts the growth of states.
Regarding poverty reduction, he also pointed out that despite efforts that have been made by the United Nations, “poverty is still stalking the earth”.
On climate change, he said, it has “made our planet extremely fragile and vulnerable”. Drawing the forum’s attention to the importance of jobs creation, he stated that “as politicians and leaders of our nations, we all know that jobs sit at the heart of growing economies, good governance and political stability”.
He said that his government was investing maximum time and energy in indirect interventions, in reviving the national economy and taking the economic growth from the present 3.6% to more than 7% in the next five years. This will give a strong stimulus to agriculture, industry, trade, and services and create millions of new jobs, he added.
The government is also giving incentives to the private sector to generate maximum employment, he said.
Nawaz spent a busy day, holding talks with world leaders and attending international meetings on energy as well as sustainable development aimed at boosting economic progress in developing countries.
The prime minister, who flew into New York on Monday night, was on his seat as the head of the Pakistan delegation in hall of the 193-member assembly which began its high-level debate on Tuesday morning. He listened to speeches by some of the world leaders, including US President Barack Obama.
“His participation reflects Pakistan’s commitment to multilateral diplomacy and the United Nations being the most representative institution for world peace and security, economic and social development and respect for human rights,” Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry, a spokesman of the Pakistan delegation, told reporters at a news briefing.
Afterwards, Nawaz had a meeting with Tunisian President Mohamed Moncef Marzouk. His bilateral interaction with world leaders included talks with Iranian President Hasan Rouhani and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that focused on forging strong bilateral relations.
Later, the prime minister also had an exchange of views with Bill Gates, co-chairman and Trustee of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
During the meetings on energy and sustainable development, he also interacted with a number of world leaders.
At prime minister’s meeting with Iranian President Hasan Rouhani, both the leaders discussed cooperation in energy sector and reviewed progress on gas pipeline project between the two countries.
Asked whether US sanctions on Iran were proving a bottleneck, Aizaz Chaudhry said that those “sanctions do not apply to us”.
The prime minister also had a meeting with the president of European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, and briefed the EU delegates on the positive strides Pakistan has made towards democracy by holding free, fair and transparent elections with a record turnout despite security challenges. The prime minister stated that his government’s priorities include reviving the economy, overcoming the energy shortages, eradicating extremism and promoting human rights.
Noting that the EU is Pakistan’s single largest trading partner, Nawaz stated that Pakistan’s inclusion in the GSP plus scheme in 2014 would further deepen Pakistan’s trade and investment linkages with the European Union.
The president of the European Council said that the EU attached high importance to its relations with Pakistan. He commended deepening of the democratic process in Pakistan and expressed appreciation for the positive agenda of the present government in Pakistan. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk