‘Transport infrastructure network being revamped’
By Muhammad Ali Malik

ISLAMABAD—Secretary Communications Sajid Hussain Chattha stated on Wednesday that Pakistan has embarked upon an ambitious plan to revamp its existing transport infrastructure network by developing the land and land-cum-sea transport linkages with all neighbouring particularly landlocked countries, says a message received from Astana, Kazakhstan.
Secretary Communications was representing Pakistan in the Sixth Meeting of the Inter-Governmental Commission for Development of the International Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA). The conference declared Pakistan as the permanent member of TRACECA.
He said the Government of Pakistan is determined to translate President Pervez Musharraf’s vision of transforming the country into a developed, industrialized, just and knowledge based economy by using its geo-political location and enhancing economic partnership in the region.
Pakistan is currently establishing the North-South National Trade Corridor and Energy Corridor linking countries of the region with Gwadar sea port to develop highways, he added.He said this will promote inter-regional cooperation trade and tourism in the years to come.
The Secretary said that Pakistan as the permanent member of TRACECA, will meet the challenges of serving as a regional hub for international trade not only for landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics but would also provide land bridge between China, Middle East and Gulf countries.
The Secretary Communications was optimistic that Pakistan havingtremendous human and natural resources as well technological capability will emerge as the engine for growth for the entire world.
He was confident that with this new membership, he can foresee a global scenario where Asians equality share the benefits of globalization, progress and development. This would certainly lead us to a more secure progressive and prosperous Pakistan, he concluded.