News
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Unite against poverty and terror, Musharraf tells Asian nationsISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf on Friday urged the Asian nations to work jointly to eliminate poverty and backwardness.
“Asian countries will have to work in unison for the uplift and prosperity of their people. They have to deal jointly with the menaces of poverty, backwardness, illiteracy and terrorism,” he told the participants of the 13th General Assembly of Asia Pacific Parliamentarians conference on environment and development here at Aiwan-e-Sadr.
“We are facing several challenges with reference to improvement in environment and human development. We can counter them jointly to ensure a better future for our coming generations,” the president said. He praised the recommendations of the conference and hoped that decisions taken at the conference on environment and economic priorities would leave a positive impact at regional and international levels.
President Musharraf said that the Pakistani government was working on a project to provide safe drinking water to the people. Water filtration plants will be installed in every union council of the country by the end of this year, he added. “We are also focusing on the development of water resources, as our water needs are growing. Water consumption has also increased due to the growth in population,” he noted.
The president said that in the past policies were made, but they are not implemented, adding that this practice would have to be checked. He said that continuity in economic reforms would be ensured to eradicate poverty and unemployment. He said that per capita income in Pakistan had increased and the gross domestic production had improved. He said that a national policy had been devised to improve environment. He urged Asian nations to improve mutual coordination and cooperation and play their role in resolving conflicts, impeding development efforts in the region.
The president also hosted a luncheon for the conference participants, which was attended by Senate Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro, federal ministers and other important personalities and officials. online
Courtesy DailyTimes.com.pk