Government striving for investment-friendly atmosphere: Shaukat

LAHORE (February 17 2005): The Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz has said that the government is focussing on good governance and political stability to create business and investment-friendly atmosphere. He stated this, while talking to a 16-member LCCI delegation at Prime Minister House, says a spokesman of the LCCI here on Wednesday. LCCI President Mian Misbah-ur-Rehman led the delegation. Other members of the delegation were SVP Sohail Lashari, VP Sheikh Muhammad Arshad, former FPCCI president Iftikhar Ali Malik, former LCCI chief Sheikh Muhammad Asif and members of the executive committee of the chamber.

Various important issues being faced by the business community were taken up during the meeting, which continued for well over an hour. The Prime Minister assured the delegation of his full co-operation in early solution of all the issues.

Shaukat said that there was a need to make Pakistan a business-friendly state and added that he wished businessmen in Pakistan had all the facilities and a good environment. He averred that the globalisation has posed new challenges and complexities to the business community and to cope with these challenges, the government is doing all what it can and would continue its endeavours at national, regional and international levels.

He said that he has directed the concerned ministry to give due weightage to the proposals of all the chambers while preparing forthcoming federal budget. He asked the chambers of commerce and industry (CCI) to send all its proposals to the finance ministry.

He was of the view that establishment of industrial estates in various parts of the country is enough to prove sincerity of the government towards the well being of business community and creation of business-friendly atmosphere in the country. He urged the delegation members to help the government in putting the economy on right track, as no country could move forward without the co-operation of business community.

The LCCI Chief, Mian Misbah-ur-Rehman, on this occasion presented a cheque of Rs 10 million to the Prime Minister for tsunami and snow/rain affected people of the country.

While lauding the efforts of Prime Minister towards betterment of the business community, he said that the present government has realised the importance of business community and is taking all necessary measures for redressal of their genuine concerns.

He stressed the need for expediting the process of industrialisation in the country, as it is the only way to cope with poverty and the problem of unemployment. Appreciating the Prime Minister for signing free trade agreement (FTA) with Sri Lanka, he called for signing such agreements with other countries in the larger interest of Pakistan's economy.

Sohail Lashari and Sheikh Muhammad Arshad also lauded the efforts of Prime Minister for the economic revival of the country.


Pakistan, Tunisia Set To Boost Trade Ties


ISLAMABAD, Feb 23 Asia Pulse - Pakistan and Tunisia enjoy excellent political and diplomatic relations but their trade is not matching to it.

"Bilateral trade between Pakistan and Tunisia is only $40 million and there is tremendous potential for boosting trade relations for the benefit of the two countries", said charge d'affaires of Tunisia in Pakistan Muhammad Ben Salah.

He said in the next half of 2005, one Pakistan exhibition will be held in Tunisia. This, he said, would help boost trade relations between the two countries.

The envoy appreciated the economic policies initiated by Pakistan and said businessmen of the two countries could take opportunity for enhancing bilateral trade. " Tunisia can export dates, fertilizer for agriculture and olive oils to Pakistan", he said.

Pakistan

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, Feb. 23 -- International Sovereign Energy Corp., Vancouver, BC, may develop fractured Paleocene and Eocene carbonates in Toot oil field near Islamabad in the Potwar basin on a farmout from state Oil & Gas Development Co. Ltd.

Toot produces light oil from Jurassic Datta at 4,500 m, where 17 wells were drilled in 1964-86. Light oil potential exists in the carbonate sequences of the Sakesar, Patala, and Chorgali formations at 4,150 m (OGJ, Jan. 10, 2000, p. 57). The concession covers 122.67 sq km.

The first stage calls for a geological, geophysical, and petrophysical study of the carbonates and a fracture analysis of other nearby fields. Development would occur in later stages by well re-entries or new drilling with International Sovereign as operator.

An analogous field in the same region came on production in 1990 and produced more than 12 million bbl of light oil and 11 bcf of gas in 10 years from two wells still on production today.

NCHD gets $6.5m donation

ISLAMABAD: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has donated US$ 6.5 million to the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) in Pakistan for the Primary Health Programme.

“We are very pleased to support the National Commission for Human Development’s efforts to improve rural health in Pakistan,” said Dr David Fleming, director for global health strategies in Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Sources said three major projects would be carried out with the grant. They said under the National Oral Rehydration Solution (Nimkol) Project, 6.75 million mothers in 45 districts in the country would be trained to make and administer a simple but effective remedy that could prevent child deaths from diarrhoea. online

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