'Govt determined to reduce poverty'
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—Government is determined to reducing poverty through accelerated economic growth and investing in human capital and infrastructure development for poverty reduction and socio-economic prosperity of the country.
This was stated by Rajab Ali Khan Baloch Parliamentary Secretary Ministry of Food and Agriculture while addressing as chief guest at a seminar on "High Economic Growth and Poverty" here at Preston University.
Chancellor of the University Dr.Abdul Basit, Assistant Economic Advisor Ministry of Finance Zafar-ul-Hassan , Dr.Shabbir Hussan , Chief Executive Officer Hashoo Foundation for education Zafar ul Hassan and a student of the university Ms.Saira Javed also spoke on the occasion. Baloch added that the government is also focusing on poverty reduction measures and improve the living conditions of the common man through providing job opportunities and initiating pro-poor infrastructure projects in the country.
He said that the government is also focusing on the development of rural areas and agriculture sector. Baloch said that the present government has allocated more than Rs.400 billion on Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2006-07, in the country for the betterment of the people of the country.
He added that government is spending Rs.70 billion for the brick lining of the water courses in order to save water form wastage and provided maximum water for the irrigation purposes.
The government he said would completed these projects in three year which would also benefit the rural population and poverty reduction.
He said that the trends of poverty in Pakistan started rising in the 1980s due to stagnation of the economy.
It, he said rose from 30.6 percent in 1998-99 to 32.1 percent in 2000-01. He added due to prudent economic policies of the government and structural reforms initiated by the government during past five years the GDP has grown at an average rate of 7 percent.
He added that the poverty has come down from 32.1 in 2000-01 to 23.9 percent in 2005-06 percent to and it would further reduced through pro-poor interventions.
He expressed the determination of the government to sustain the growth rate of 7-8 percent in the coming years to further reducing poverty in the country.
Zafar Hassan in his presentation highlighted the economic achievements of the government on the economic front and steps taken by the government for accelerated economic growth and poverty reduction.
The other speakers also appreciated the economic policies of the government at pro-poor interventions to improve living standard of the common man.