The Express Tribune
Published Date: Oct 22, 2014
Knowledge economy: Youth’s role in development stressed
Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal on Monday
said that the government was focusing on educating youth to pursue the
long term vision of development and progress in the country.
Delivering a talk on “Democracy, Development and Role of Youth” at
the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), he said Pakistan
Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) launched their
protests at a time when China was about to bring a direct foreign
investment of $45 billion to Pakistan’s energy and infrastructure
sectors.
He said China would invest $34 billion in energy generation and
transmission and $11 billion in building infrastructure in Pakistan over
the next three to four years. He plan, he said, would make Pakistan
self-sufficient in energy.
“Energy crisis has reduced manufacturing capacity of the country,
resulting in job losses and poverty. The government has succeeded in
completing LNG terminal in Pakistan and from the early next year gas
supply from the facility would run into the system,” said the minister.
The planning minister said Pakistan should live in peace with all its
neighbours and should not interfere in the internal affairs of
Afghanistan, which is a big market for Pakistan. He said even India had
become a loser after its recent aggressive posture against Pakistan.
The government, he said, was pursuing five basic prerequisites for
translating growth into development, which included political stability,
right economic agenda, investing in human resource, avoiding conflicts
and enabling technological solutions.
Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Mukhart Ahmed said the
commission has a plan to provide internet connectivity throughout
campuses across Pakistan.
SDPI Executive Director Dr Abid Qayium Suleri said depoliticising the
youth by banning student unions had played a negative role in building
political diaspora. “The present situation and environment is not ideal
for our youth. They must be harnessed for a positive change.”
Source : http://tribune.com.pk/story/778485/knowledge-economy-youths-role-in-development-stressed/