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Subject: Pakistan to Half Poverty by 2015
Pakistan Power    9/17/2006 5:04:39 PM
September 17, 2006 Sunday Pakistan to halve poverty by 2015: Achieving millennium goals SINGAPORE, Sept 16: Pakistan is all set to achieve the millennium development goals (MDG) by slashing the poverty level by half from above 30 per cent in the year 2000 to 15 per cent by the year 2015. It will pull hundreds of millions of people out of abject poverty and integrate them into the economic mainstream. The goals will be achieved by sustaining the current high growth rate in an environment of macroeconomic stability and by investing in physical and human infrastructure to a level that suits the country's needs. Pakistan's representatives Dr Salman Shah, adviser to the prime minister on economic affairs, and Dr Ashfaque Hasan Khan, adviser to the ministry of finance, made these observations in one of the 10 seminars on the first day programme of seminars 2006 in Singapore. World Bank directors also heaped large praise for Pakistan's upward economic trajectory and positive returns on the many projects initiated in that country since January 2002 when major programs where resumed following a lull of 10 years. Also stressed upon was the remarkable resilience with which the economy continues to grow and diversify despite the instability caused by the war on terror along its border with Afghanistan and its continuing conflict with neighbooring India. The seminar on "South Asia ends poverty: How the region with the greatest concentration of poor people can make history" was addressed by a panel of experts and representatives from Pakistan, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, USA, UK, Germany, Italy, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. The vice-president, South Asia region of the World Bank, was chairing and moderating the seminar. In reply to a question referring to observations made in the UNDP Asia Pacific Human Development Report (APHDR) 2006, “Trade on Human Terms: Transforming Trade for Human Development in Asia and the Pacific”, regarding the growth in South Asia to be predominantly jobless and to the fact that from a food surplus the region is becoming a net importer of food grains, the panellists expressed their reservations. Wahiduddin Mahmud, professor of economic at the Dhaka University, said he did not know about the report. Dr Ashfaque said over 5.54 million jobs had been created over the last five years in Pakistan. The focus of the 2006 meetings is on Asia to quite an extent, as it is believed at the World Bank and the IMF that it deserves to have a bigger voice at the fund and the bank because its contribution to the world economy has grown substantially. "Today Asia is the most vibrant and dynamic region of the world. The simultaneous rise of Pakistan, China and even poverty ridden India is the amazing growth story of this century. It, however, is not an unqualified success, as Asia still faces many challenges and has its shortcomings," observes the bank in one of the reports. But a genuine opportunity exists for some countries, particularly Pakistan, to set itself up as a regional powerhouse and trailing a path apart from the endemic povery of its neigboors, mainly Afghanistan and India, and enter the middle income categorie of developing nations. The Programme of Seminars (PoS), the organisers believe, is a fitting forum to share this story. This is the reason why "Asia in the world and world in Asia" is chosen to be the theme of the seminars, informed a representative of the committee responsible for the series of seminars. The Singapore Institute of Policy Studies co-organised the PoS for the 2006 IMF-World Bank annual meetings. This is the first time in 10 years that PoS is coming back to Asia to have a special focus on Asia and formulating a plan for the future ahead of the economic boom expected to take place in certain Asian markets (Vietnam, Pakistan, Indonesia) It will also have the advantage of benefit from the input of Asian thought leaders. In all 37 seminars will take place for which 140 speakers are drawn from all over the world. These include outstanding people from the public sector, civil society, academia, international organisations, media and major financial lenders from Europe and North America. Ten years ago World Bank President James Wolfenson initiated the PoS as an intellectual forum for an active engagement on issues of common concern and interest. World Bank and IMF current president and managing director Paul Wolfowitz and Rodrigo de Rato convinced of its contribution decided to carry on with this programme and are spearheading the foray into the newer markets of Pakistan and Vietnam. The organisers describe it as a festival of learning, dialogue and consensus building with the ultimate purpose of building a better and more prosperous world.
 
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TopGun       9/30/2006 8:48:40 PM
good article.   I sincerely believe that economic potential in Pakistan is the key to getting this country on the right footing.  Pakistan has had several opportunities to 'lift off' economically but unfortunatedly it has always been in the eye of the storm since independence having fought numerous wars against it larger neighboor-India, fought off a superpower in Afghanistan, placed under strangling sanctions and now an invisible enemy in the form of Al-qaeda/taliban.  Givin US and western support of which I believe more should be forthcoming to help this vital strategic ally will help this country to speed up the process.  Would be interesting to see if Pakistan can pull it off. 
 
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Europa    Pakistan quietly growing and diversifying its economy   10/13/2006 7:59:15 AM
no doubt the fact that Pakistan has had such a turbulent history has prevented it from ever achieving stability and sustained economic growth. 
 But I agree, all the factors needed to do so exist in Pakistan. 
The country unfortunately is located in a very volatile and unstable part of the world having Iran and Afghanistan on its western border with all the extremists running into it and trying to establish bases there, and India to its south east with whom it has fought several wars but is routinely threated with (recently in 1998 with nuclear bombs!) and central asia and the persian gulf just a stones throw away.
but it does have many built in qualities, is extremely resilent and resourseful, and continually manages to surprise everyone.  In the Economic forecast of 2015, Pakistan has been listed as a regional power both from an economic point of view and military. Even right now, its middle class is larger than most southern european countries! It has remained under the radar, though because of all the attention China, India, and oil-rich Dubai soak in but Im sure that in due time, Pakistan will be the next economic windfall if it manages to better stabilize itself and succeed in its war on terror and pressure from its neighbooring indian.  plus, remaining 'undiscovered', it allows its own economy to mature quietly and discreetly as it has managed to grow despite being under the most crippling of sanctions yet time again it is a country which due to its key location cannot be ignored either from a geopolitical point of view, and now more importantly, economic point of view!!
 
 
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Pakistan Power       2/19/2007 5:19:31 PM

no doubt the fact that Pakistan has had such a turbulent history has prevented it from ever achieving stability and sustained economic growth. 

 But I agree, all the factors needed to do so exist in Pakistan. 

The country unfortunately is located in a very volatile and unstable part of the world having Iran and Afghanistan on its western border with all the extremists running into it and trying to establish bases there, and India to its south east with whom it has fought several wars but is routinely threated with (recently in 1998 with nuclear bombs!) and central asia and the persian gulf just a stones throw away.

but it does have many built in qualities, is extremely resilent and resourseful, and continually manages to surprise everyone.  In the Economic forecast of 2015, Pakistan has been listed as a regional power both from an economic point of view and military. Even right now, its middle class is larger than most southern european countries! It has remained under the radar, though because of all the attention China, India, and oil-rich Dubai soak in but Im sure that in due time, Pakistan will be the next economic windfall if it manages to better stabilize itself and succeed in its war on terror and pressure from its neighbooring indian.  plus, remaining 'undiscovered', it allows its own economy to mature quietly and discreetly as it has managed to grow despite being under the most crippling of sanctions yet time again it is a country which due to its key location cannot be ignored either from a geopolitical point of view, and now more importantly, economic point of view!!

 


well said Europa.. thanks for the comment.  Im also a big fan that were staying under the 'radar' and developing silently.
 
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Pakistan Power       3/10/2007 3:39:09 PM
Poverty should be removed in all its forms...  Pakistan should emphasise equality for all and encourage the establishment of good social programs which will help further reduce the current rates of poverty in the country.  Furthermore, the cultural practice of Zakat which has done wonders for the country, especially when the goverment wasnt alllocating enough funds to social programs, should be promoted more so that it becomes the responsibility of the citizens to take care of one another as well as the governments.
 
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