President, Premier review rehabilitation, relief strategy
Staff Report

RAWALPINDI—President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in a meeting here Thursday reviewed relief operations in quake-hit areas and expressed their resolve that reconstruction in these areas would be carried out on modern lines.
The President and the Prime Minister, who have both visited the quake-stricken areas and met the people, discussed at length the steps being taken for further enhancing relief and medical assistance in the hard-hit areas.
On world response to the calamity, the two leaders expressed Pakistan’s gratitude to the international community for immediate assistance in the critical hour for the nation and underscored the importance of sustained assistance, which is required in the colossal phase of reconstruction and rehabilitation.
The two leaders discussed the scope of the newly established Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority, which has been tasked to undertake an immediate assessment regarding all aspects of the damage for efficient planning and effective execution of the reconstruction stage.
They observed that rehabilitation of the quake-affected people would also require a comprehensive approach as millions of lives will have to be rebuilt, and people provided means to livelihood and a better quality of life.
The President and the Prime Minister were later joined by Lt Gen Muhammad Zubair, the head of Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority and Maj General Farooq Ahmed Khan, Federal Relief Commissioner, who updated them on the various actions being carried out by their respective organizations.
The two leaders directed that the reconstruction work in the quake-damaged areas has to be done in consultation with the affected people, local government and civil administration of NWFP and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Thursday appreciated the support received from the private sector for earthquake victims, as it has contributed so far an amount of Rs. 6.5 billion in the President’s Relief Fund.
The Prime Minister was addressing a meeting of the Board of Investment (BOI) here which was attended by Chief Ministers of Sindh, Balochistan, NWFP, Minister for Law, Punjab (Chief Minister abroad), Federal Ministers and prominent bankers and Industrialists.
It was also decided to appeal to the business community to continue its support and to participate in the second phase of reconstruction and rehabilitation.
The private sector’s offer to sponsor one village, hospital and school was acknowledged and appreciated.
In the meeting overall economic and investment situation arising out of the earthquake was also reviewed and it was decided to adopt a proactive approach aimed at converting the challenge into all opportunity for the development of the earthquake hit areas of AJK and NWFP.
The meeting also reviewed the overall investment climate and expressed its satisfaction that the foreign investment has increased five-fold in the last five years from $ 322 million to $ 1.56 billion.
It was noted that Pakistan is considered as one of the most liberal investment regime and is rated one of top ten reformers and therefore considered most favorable for investment than the other major countries of the region.
The Prime Minister directed the Board to remove all impediments in the way of investors, domestic and foreign, especially in the areas of land acquisition, provision of utilities and facilitation at the provincial and local levels.
The provincial governments were asked to be more active and energize their Provincial Committees on Investment which are headed by the respective Chief Ministers.
The Minister for Privatization and investment will visit the provinces and review the functioning of the Provincial Investment Committees and suggest areas for reforms in functioning and deregulation.
The Board also constituted four Committees which were directed to present their recommendations to the BOI within a month for the improvement of the specific areas.
These are Committee on Facilitation of Private Enquiry Fund, with Nasir Ali Shah Bokhari designated as its Coordinator, Private Power Investment Committee, with Mian Mansha as Coordinator will submit a transparent strategy for facilitation of investment in this key area.
The Land Acquisition Committee, with Shahid Feroz as Coordinator, will submit recommendations to simplify land acquisition from the Provincial Governments.
The Corporate Farming Investment Committee, with Minister for Food as Coordinator, will ensure that the Provinces complete the pending cases relating to the corporate farming.
It was also decided in the meeting to hold the next meeting of the board later in November aimed at to continue with the institutionalization of investment, facilitation and in this regard BOI will play a key role in developing policies and identifying sector with competitive advantages in Pakistan.