Ted Turner meets Premier
ISLAMABAD—Chairman United Nations Foundation and founder of world
renowned Cable Television Network (CNN) Ted Turner called Prime Minister
Shaukat Aziz here Sunday and appreciated the remarkable performance of
Pakistan government in rehabilitation and reconstruction work being done
in the areas hit by devastating October 8 earthquake.
Ted Turner, was leading a delegation which included US Senator Timothy
E. Wirth President UN Foundation, Mrs. Gro Harlem Brundtland former
Prime Minister of Norway, Dr. Nafis Sadiq Special Advisor to United
Nations Secretary General, Muhammad Yunis founder of Grameen Bank and
Jan Vandermoortele UNDP Resident Representative. Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs Khusro Bakhtiar and other officials were also present in
the meeting.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz briefed the delegation about the rescue,
relief and rehabilitation activities in the quake-hit areas. He said
Pakistan was overwhelmed by the response of the world to help in its
rehabilitation and reconstruction work.
The Prime Minister also highlighted various development schemes being
under way with the help of UN including provision of clean drinking
water, fight against hepatitis, HIV AIDS and making the country
polio-free. He said Pakistan has been getting tremendous support from
United Nations and other international organizations to achieve the
targets of development projects for the betterment of the life of the
masses.
Prime Minister appreciated the role of UN Foundation to extend financial
help to the UN to help the developing countries through improving the
infrastructure with the help of this Foundation which has provided one
billion dollars to UN. Shaukat Aziz thanked the help and assistance
being provide by the UN Foundation through the UN and expressed the hope
that it would further improve the life of the people in the affected
areas.
Referring to the regional and international situation, the Prime
Minister told the delegation that Pakistan is peace loving country and
wanted to promote peace in the region. Chairman UN Foundation Ted Turner
appreciating the efforts of Government of Pakistan for helping the
people in the quake hit areas said Pakistan Army and local population
together with the international community have been doing wonderful job
in the affected areas.
He said during his visit to quake hit areas, he was impressed to see the
work of Pakistan Army and local people who had cleaned up the debris and
shops are re-opening while people are busy in reconstruction of their
houses. Ted said the UN Foundation would remain involved in the
reconstruction work in the quake-affected areas on long term basis.
Appreciating the leadership qualities of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz,
Ted Turner said, “You are doing one of the best jobs of running your
country. I am extremely impressed and happy”. Ted who visited quake-hit
areas this morning also appreciated the natural beauty of the country
and emphasised the need to further promote the tourism sector.—APP |
