ISLAMABAD, 3 August — President Pervez Musharraf announced that a number of development projects would be launched immediately after the Independence Day (Aug. 14), providing a kick-start to the economy. Informing the Cabinet about this extremely-important decision, the president said the launching of these mega projects would create a large number of jobs, as these projects would include a number of water storage and infrastructure development projects to increase water resources, electricity generation and improve communication facilities.
These projects, said Musharraf, are not only aimed at socio-economic uplift of the people but would also help in improving agro-industrial potential. Musharraf was chairing the federal Cabinet meeting which also approved Haj Policy for 20001-2.
Officially, it is said that Musharraf emphasized on economic development and poverty alleviation as two top most priorities of his government. “To achieve progress in these sectors, the government is taking steps which could inject the needed vigor to the economy and provide relief and succor to the common man,” said an official announcement.
Musharraf directed the Housing and Works Ministry and the provincial governments to work expeditiously to provide land for houses in rural areas so that people living in villages could be provided ownership of the plots on which they could build houses or assume ownership of plots on which they have already built houses.
He also directed that residents of kachi abadis (undeveloped colonies) should be provided houses at reasonably low prices and should not be shifted to far off areas where basic civic amenities are not available. He directed for provision of infrastructure facilities to such areas and said that concerted efforts should be made for completion of schemes under “Khushal Pakistan” program as this would help in alleviating poverty.
The Cabinet approved a proposal for membership in INFOFISH, a service-oriented inter-government organization established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to enable the fisheries of the contracting parties to develop in accordance with current and future market demand and to take full advantage of the potential offered by their fishery resources. Fisheries sector in Pakistan has a great export potential and by joining INFOFISH Pakistan could exploit this potential fully through access to the services provided by INFOFISH.
