Ahsan Iqbal seeks support from Norway before FATF meeting
Ahsan Iqbal was talking at an event organized by Embassy of Pakistan in Oslo, Norway
ISLAMABAD (APP) – In the wake of role and sacrifices made by Pakistan on the fight against terrorism, Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal has called upon Norway’s support at the up-coming meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in Paris.
He stressed that any move to place Pakistan in the “grey” list by the international community would be counterproductive and would undermine the extensive work that Pakistan had carried out under the National Action Plan to thwart extremism and terrorism, a statement received here on Saturday said.
The Minister was talking at an event organized by Embassy of Pakistan in Oslo Norway.
During his one day official visit to Norway, Ahsan Iqbal interacted with a large number of Pakistani-Norwegians at the event.
Highlighting Pakistan state of economy, the Minister, who is also minister for Planning, Development and Reforms said that while a few years ago, Pakistan was considered the most dangerous place in the world, today it is ranked among the fastest emerging economies in Asia.
“Pakistan has become one of the top 5 economies in the world which have shown the highest growth rate in the last five years.
He said the economic growth of the country had stagnated at 3 percent when this government came into power.
“Last year, we achieved a growth rate of 5.3 percent and we are expecting it to reach the figure of 6 percent this year, while industrial growth has significantly increased due to addition of 11,000 MW electricity to the national grid,” he added.
Referring to the greatly improved law and order situation in the country, Minister Ahsan Iqbal said that until a few years Karachi had lost its status as a business and investment hub but today, target killings, land mafias and the culture of extortion were becoming a thing of the past.
More than a hundred factories had resumed operation reviving the entire economy of Karachi. Similarly, situation in Balochistan has improved due to unprecedented number of development projects initiated in the province.
He said China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a game changer as more than USD 46 billion worth of projects were being implemented of which investments worth USD 29 billion has been materialized.
Major infrastructure projects related to CPEC were being completed on schedule in line with the policy of economic integration of the region as envisioned in the Pakistan Vision 2025.
Highlighting the important role of the diaspora in building Pakistan’s economy, the Minister stated that foreign remittances were a lifeline for the country.
He encouraged increased foreign investment by Pakistani-Norwegians and called upon them become ambassadors of a rising Pakistan by prioritizing research for the attainment of “knowledge supremacy” and to present a forward-looking face of Pakistan to the rest of the world.
Earlier in the day, Minister Ahsan Iqbal held substantive and fruitful discussions with his Norwegian counterpart, Sylvia Listaug and State Secretary Halvorsen in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on bilateral issues.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also urged the national institutions to serve within their domains.
He said National Health Programme was the vision of Nawaz Sharif who had thought of providing medical facility to the poor at par with the rich people.
He also thanked Punjab government, State Life and NADRA authorities for putting in their efforts to make the project a success.
He said the scheme was growing successfully and even many countries were consulting with Pakistan over the methods of programme’s successful implementation.
He said although the health was a provincial subject after the 18 Constitutional Amendment, Nawaz Sharif planned to extend federal government’s services in health sector without any political discrimination across the country.
He assured the gathering that the programme would be expanded and the shortcomings would be addressed.
He said the government was delivering and it was up to the people as whom they would elect in July elections.
The prime minister reiterated that the PML-N had decided not to allow rigging in Senate elections and resist those involved in horse-trading even before and after the polls.
He viewed that the people contesting elections using their riches or some venal MPAs instead of public support, could neither serve the masses, nor the parliament.
He said it was only the parliament that went through accountability after every five years.
The prime minister agreed to the demands of establishing a university campus, construction of new roads and maintenance of old ones as requested by the local representatives.
He also assured the provision of gas supply to the remaining villages of the district.
He also lauded the role of Minister Saira Afzal Tarar and her father Afzal Tarar who always served their people.
In her address, Minister for National Health Saira Afzal Tarar said the programme was launched after hectic efforts in 2015 and the government had been ensuring transparency in the programme with satisfactory level of 97 percent.
She challenged opponents who had been alleging the government of corruption to prove any embezzlement in any of the current government’s projects.
She said Hafizabad, also her constituency, had been uplifted at par with other mega cities, having three motorway links besides provision of gas and other facilities.
