Overseas Pakistanis living across Britain on Sunday welcomed the election of Shaukat Aziz as Prime Minister and hoped he would use his economic acumen for ensuring that fruits of economic growth trickle down to the poor.
British Pakistanis community leaders and businessmen told APP here on Sunday they expected Shaukat Aziz would use his economic expertise and experience to adopt policies which are in the interest of the poor.
His elevation to the august office, they said, would both accelerate economic development and bring political stability and hoped he would strengthen efforts for a just solution of the Indian occupied Kashmir issue.
Shaukat Aziz, they said, had already proved his grit to take decisions for turning the national economy around, at a time, when it was at the edge of bankruptcy. Overseas Pakistanis, particularly appreciated the latest incentives given to them during his announcement of the national budget for 2004-05 as the Finance Minister.
They hoped that the important role being played by overseas Pakistanis in progress of the country would not only be acknowledged by him but they would be given incentives to further strengthen it. The budget 2004-05 had given some relaxation in the baggage rules and slashed customs duties on import of machinery and vehicles as well.
"I have great hopes that he will bring benefits to Pakistan's economy as well as political strength," the ruling Labour Party peer Lord Nazir Ahmed told APP.
He "is a professional man with commitment, dedication to Pakistan. He has proved that he can run the economy," he said.
"He knows his business and these days if you look around the world these are technocrats who are running the third world countries like in India."
Lord Ahmed said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is a professional, who also understands the international geo-political system and also the economic problems. He would bring great benefits to Pakistan's economy, he added.
Lord Ahmed had a meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz during his recent visit to Pakistan.
During his meeting, Lord Ahmed said he urged the then Prime Minister-in-waiting "to reorganise and restructure" Overseas Foundation to encourage overseas Pakistanis to come and invest in Pakistan.
"I think he will be able to encourage the diaspora community to work in Pakistan because he himself remained outside Pakistan for quarter a century so he understands our problems, he understands the issues and he understands how he can encourage" them to be connected with Pakistan.
Chairman of UK Pakistan Overseas Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UKPOCCI) Ikram Khan said it was Shaukat Aziz's hard work and talent which helped pull the country's economy out of the woods under the able guidance of President General Pervez Musharraf.
The current positive indicators depict that far-reaching economic reforms introduced during past four years had started showing the results.
Ikram said being apolitical could become Aziz's great asset as well which could enable him take tough decisions for improving lot of the teeming millions.
UKPOCCI, he said, would extend full co-operation to Shaukat Aziz's government in its endeavours to bring more foreign investment which was needed to create more job opportunities back home.
President of UK Muslim Conference Riaz Mehmood said the expatriates were hopeful that given his background and success as a Finance Minister at a very critical time, he would be able to further build on his economic policies.
Riaz said even his detractors would agree that he pulled the economy out of a serious economic crisis and restored its viability before eyes of the international institutions.
It is the economic development in present day world which could ensure a honourable place for a country. "Overseas Pakistanis in the UK hope that the country will make progress under the leadership of Shaukat Aziz," said Riaz.
Riaz welcomed the commitment by the Prime Minister to resolve the long-pestering issue of Indian occupied Kashmir in line with aspirations of the Kashmiris.
Riaz hoped that he would be able to play an effective role to resolve the Indian occupied Kashmir issue by following the policy of President General Pervez Musharraf.
A young and upcoming solicitor here Amjad Malik said the real test of the new Prime Minister would be to ensure social justice to the common man and take decisions required that benefits of economic growth reach the poor sections of the society.
Amjad welcomed Shaukat Aziz's vow to improve the law and order in the country as it was necessary to bring foreign investment in the country.
Mehboob Ahmed, a well-known businessmen in East London welcoming his election hoped that Shaukat Aziz would use this opportunity to solve the economic woes of the common man.
Executive Director of Brussels Kashmir Centre Abul Majid Tramboo said overseas Kashmiris expected the new Prime Minister to continue diplomatic and political support being extended to them on the issue of Indian occupied Kashmir.
"What is much more important is that he has to influence the United States Government to keep on influencing the Government of India not only to continue the negotiations but to see that at an appropriate level, at an appropriate stage the Kashmiris are involved in the negotiations between India and Pakistan," said Tramboo.
No lasting solution to Indian occupied Kashmir can be found unless the people of Jammu and Kashmir are involved in the talks between Pakistan and India, he said.
Shaukat Aziz is an able person and "he has helped a lot in rejuvenating the economy in Pakistan," Professor Nazir Shawal, Executive Director of Kashmir Centre London said while welcoming the election of Shaukat Aziz.
"His experience with the files is wonderful and I hope that the future of Pakistan's requirements and needs would be properly cared for by Shaukat Aziz," said Professor Shawl.
Shawl said as a Kashmiri he hoped that the new Prime Minister would strive "for solving this long standing problem which is the core issue between India and Pakistan."
President of Pakistan Welfare Association Slough Jamil A. Tabassum said that as Shaukat Aziz remained outside the country for over thirty years hence could fully understand the problems faced by expatriates.
Tabassum hoped he would acknowledge the role being played by overseas Pakistanis in the progress of the country.
He particularly welcomed his commitment to be kind to the weak as it would be a great source of satisfaction to the teeming millions. President of Tehrik-e- Kashmir UK Mohammad Ghalib welcomed Shaukat Aziz's election and hoped he would measure up to the expectations of the poor.
British Kashmirs, he said, welcomed the Prime Minister's statement that the long-standing issue would be resolved in accordance with the wishes of the nine million Kashmiris.
Ghalib hoped that Shaukat Aziz would tap the great potential of overseas Pakistanis to work for promoting the interests of the country in the UK. These people can do a lot of good work in improving the image of the country, he added.
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