Globalization to bring prosperity, says PM
Bureau Report

LAHORE—Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Tuesday said that the contacts with other political parties are aimed at improving political atmosphere in the country.
He was talking to journalists here at the stone-laying ceremony of Pakistan Institute of National Affairs’ House. He said that Pakistan Muslim League and its allies will participate in the next general elections together and will win the elections on the basis of its performance.
Completion of the assemblies tenure and timely general elections will be a great achievement of present government in the political history of the country for which present leadership deserves credit.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to go ahead with the construction of all big dams and water reservoirs including the Kalabagh Dam, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Tuesday the government will take all the provinces on board by removing their reservations.
“We will make all big dams including Bhasha-Diamer, Khalabagh, Munda, Akori and Kuramtangi; we will take all the provinces on board and remove their reservations,” the Prime Minister maintained while addressing the 3rd Kissan Time Awards ceremony here at the Convention Centre.
Stressing upon the vitality of the big dams and water reservoirs for the country’s agriculture sector development as well as for hydel power generation, Prime Minister Aziz said the work on Bhasha-Diamer Dams has already started which would help generate cheaper electricity to meet the growing energy demand for domestic, agriculture and industrial uses.
He said as the agriculture was backbone of country’s economy and 60 to 70 percent of the population was related to this sector, the present government has given special impetus to the efforts and incentives for agriculture sector development.
“If the agriculture sector will grow and flourish, the economy will grow and flourish and if the people of rural areas will prosper the country will prosper”, he remarked. The Prime Minister said the government’s focus was on the provision of better seed, fertilizers, water and easy agriculture credit to growers, particularly the small farmers along with the basic health, education and other life amenities in the rural areas to bring about positive change in their life.
He appreciated the performance of National Bank of Pakistan and ZTBL for providing farm loans to the growers. The Prime Minister said the government’s efforts to provide and produce better seed through increased funding for research were in progress and now the bio-tech (BT) seed would be available.
He also mentioned Rs 250 per bag reduction in prices of Phosphate and Potash fertilizers through subsidy by the government as part of its efforts to encourage the growers to use better fertilizers and get more income through increased yield.