Pakistan needs foreign investment to tackle militancy: Shahbaz Enthrals audience with his German speaking skills; Dar says several years needed to put things right Murtaza Ali Shah Friday, November 01, 2013 LONDON: Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has said that loadshedding and militancy are two of the biggest challenges confronting Pakistan today and both need to be tackled on a war footing. Speaking at a side event at the World Islamic Economic Forum to appeal for investment in Punjab and rest of the country, the Punjab chief minister said that it is responsibility of the global community to help Pakistan deal with these challenges because Pakistan has suffered for the world in the ‘war on terrorism’. Speaking at the same event, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that the PML-N government will need the next five years term to govern to fix the problems of the country especially the energy sector. “We need continuity to carry out our reform agenda. We are aiming to bring the prices down to help resolve the issues. We have inherited legacy of the past. The previous government played havoc with the economy of Pakistan, they had no clue what they were doing. We raised prices because we had no choice. We have entered into a serious reform agenda”. Shahbaz added: “We need investment, growth and jobs to counter terrorism and extremism. We need to give our youth jobs and education. For us to move forward and progress, we need help from the world. Militancy can be dealt with when we have effective and meaningful support from our allies in the world,” the CM Punjab told the conference at the Excel Centre here. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and ministers from the Punjab government were also present on this occasion. The Punjab chief minister said that terrorism is the biggest stumbling block in the way of investment in Pakistan. “Tackling terrorism and extremism is our priority. We need to control this genie to create the safe and conducive environment that’s required for foreign investment. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has announced counter terrorism policy and he realises how important it is to rid Pakistan of all kinds of militancy and terrorism. The PM has asked all provinces, agencies and institutions to work together to root out the problem of extremism to attract growth and get the engine of Pakistan’s economy moving.” During his recent visit to Turkey, Shahbaz Sharif was extended a warm welcome by the Turkish prime minister who also took him to a public rally where the CM Punjab was given a standing ovation as he spoke about the historic depth of Turkish-Pakistani relations. Shahbaz Sharif told The News that economic relations between the two countries are expanding fast. “In the last five years, we have seen lots of improvement in these relations. Under Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, these relations will touch new heights as both countries realise that they need each other and their cooperation must extend. Turkey is helping Pakistan in many ways and we need more allies like Turkey”. Shahbaz Sharif said that he has devoted himself to ensuring that energy companies invest in Pakistan and help the government deal with the energy crisis. He said that during his recent visit to China, he had signed 1000 Megawatt MoU for solar energy and work has already started on this project. “We are applying for loan and speaking to various governments on this. Chinese and Qatari delegations will visit Pakistan soon and we are hopeful that they will invest in the energy sector. You will see a concrete development in this regard very soon”. Shahbaz Sharif acknowledged that overcoming the energy crisis effectively may take several years but he added that this sector at the federal level had been ignored for several years and its that “gap” which is at the heart of all the problems in this sector. He said that several projects were previously started but left incomplete. “There was no rocket science involved in it but there never, it seems, was sincerity or will to do anything on the ground.” Our correspondent adds from Berlin: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif won praise from Federal Foreign Minister of Germany Dr Guido Westerwelle for being fluent in German language and helping to come the two countries closer than ever before. The German federal minister made these remarks at a public event here which was also attended by Shahbaz Sharif and his delegation who stayed in the country for two days before reaching London. Anne Ruth Herkes, the State Secretary of Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, was also present on this occasion. Shahbaz Sharif surprised everyone when he spoke fluently for half an hour in German language, winning a standing ovation from the German speaking audience, who were pleasantly surprised that a Pakistani politician could speak German so fluently. Shahbaz Sharif spoke about the German history and culture and demonstrated his deep knowledge of the German way of life. The German minister praised the “statesmanlike” manner of Shahbaz Sharif and credited him for making exceptional personal efforts to strengthen Germany’s relations with Pakistan. Shahbaz Sharif was in the country a year ago to hold talks with energy companies and was able to secure several contracts in the energy sector. The German officials said that Shahbaz Sharif was able to express his message to the German nation in a thorough manner in explaining why Pakistan and Germany need each other. In his speech, Dr Guido Westerwelle said that the election of Nawaz Sharif was good for Pakistan because the Pakistani PM is known to have a sound economic knowledge and was credited with turning around the economy last time he was in Pakistan. He hoped that Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif will help provide Pakistan with strong economic base.
Posted on: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 20:32:18 +0000