Pakistan wants friendly ties with all neighbours, says Nawaz Sharif

Islamabad: Pakistan desires friendly ties with all its neighbours and the world at large for sustainable development, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday. Pakistan has embarked on the path of high growth economy and is heading towards a bright future, Sharif said while inaugurating the two-day Pakistan Investment Conference in Islamabad. [caption id=“attachment_2481006” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File photo of Nawaz Sharif. Reuters[/caption] Sharif asked the entrepreneurs and businessmen to take advantage of the business- and investor-friendly policies of the government. “Our goal is to keep the government out of the market and facilitate the private sector to thrive and serve as the engine of growth,” he was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan. Sharif pointed out that the government’s policy revolves around the elimination of terrorism, an end to energy crisis, economic development and promotion of education. Sharif said significant progress has been made in controlling extremism and terrorism with the military operation Zarb-e-Azb yielding positive results. He said Pakistan desires peace within and outside its borders. Sharif reiterated the desire to have friendly relations with all the neighbours and the world at large for sustainable development. He said some hard decisions were taken for fast track development of the country and people showed confidence in the policies in the recent by-elections and local government polls. He said the remarkable economic turnaround made by the economy has also been recognised by the world leading rating companies. The Prime Minister said 25 industrial zones are being established on the three routes of China Pakistan Economic Corridor to generate thousands of job opportunities. He said a gas pipeline is being laid between Gwadar and Nawabshah and an agreement had been signed with Russia to lay a gas pipeline between Lahore and Karachi. Sharif said coal, gas, solar and wind power projects are being established to end the power outages by 2017. “In addition, we are also working on hydel projects including the fourth extension of Tarbela and Dasu Dam. Projects like Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India (TAPI) gas pipeline project and CASA 1000 will also bring energy in the system and promote regional connectivity,” he said. Apprising the investors about the internal security situation, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the back of the terrorists has been broken with the Zarb-e-Azb operation. He said peace and tranquillity in the country provides excellent opportunity to the investors to fully utilise pro-investor policies of the government. In his welcome address, Chairman Board of Investment Miftah Ismail said Pakistan is blessed with human and natural resources which make it the most attractive place for investment. Business delegations from over 29 countries are participating in the Investment Conference. PTI