The conspiracy to destabilise Pakistan Muslim Leagues-Nawaz government
was launched at a time when China was about to bring $45 billion of
direct foreign investment to Pakistan, in energy and infrastructure
sectors, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said here on
Monday.

Talking to the participants after delivering a lecture on
"Democracy, Development and Role of Youth," organised by Sustainable
Development Policy Institute, he said China would invest $34 billion in
energy generation and transmission and $11 billion in building
infrastructure, over the next three to four years. Had it materialised,
Pakistan would become self-sufficient. 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.

Though the public has rejected the conspiracy against democracy
and the storm has been weathered, the government has learned a lot, he
said. "Now we understand, such ploys are useless and do not pay in the
long run," he 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 has
become loser by her recent aggressive posture against Pakistan.

Ahsan Iqbal said his government was pursuing five basic
prerequisites for translating growth into development, which includes
political stability, right economic agenda, investing on human resource,
avoiding conflicts and enabling technological solutions. The government
is focusing on educating youth to pursue the long term vision. Pakistan
is a big market where about 80 million people earn income in the middle
income bracket.

That is the reason that the higher Education Commission has been
given its budget without any cut. To improve the status of education
the National Education Curriculum Council has been introduced to
standardise the certification system. Chairman Higher Education
Commission, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed shared program of the Commission for the
next few years, that includes enabling internet throughout the
university campus and handholding concept for improving local education
institutions in the vicinity of universities. Executive Director SDPI,
Dr Abid Qayium Suleri in his introductory remarks said, depoliticizing
youth by banning student unions has played a negative role in building
political diaspora. The present situation and environment is not ideal
for our youth and the youth must be harnessed for a positive and
productive change.-PR

Source : http://www.brecorder.com/general-news/172/1234388/