ECO urged to work for technology driven growth

Economic Co-operation Organisation (ECO) must work for technology driven growth encompassing all segments of the society to face the challenges of globalisation with greater knowledge, innovation and an enabling environment to achieve sustainable development in the region.
This was stated by Caretaker Federal Minister for Health Ejaz Rahim on Monday, while addressing the inaugural session of two-day Economic Co-operation Organisation (ECO) high level expert group meeting on Human Resources Development (HRD) and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
"The ECO countries may give more priority to human resource development and organise joint relevant regional activities in a more co-ordinated and integrated manner. We need to make concerted efforts to change the lives of millions of people living in absolute poverty and deprivation. We should learn from our experience", said Ejaz.
The minister said Pakistan remains largely on target in attaining MDG goods and hoped that most of MDGs including 100 percent literacy, net primary and secondary enrolment, health and housing for all will be achieved.
"The government is fully committed to implement regional programmes and projects in areas of poverty alleviation, social protection, employment, education, vocational training, maternal health and infant mortality", said the Minister.
He said the government in the last five years has prudently addressed the problems of TB, spread of malaria, and HIV/AIDs, while incidence of polio is almost eradicated.
The coverage of access to safe drinking water and sanitation is on track to halve the population without access to improved water and sanitation by 2015. The gender inequality in the last few years has significantly reduced and remarkable progress has been made in parliamentary representation," he said.
"We can work closely to strengthen regional human resource development capacity through sharing best practices and offering training facilities in our institutions," he added. He said Pakistan values ECO as the most promising forum for the economic integration of region and would continue to work for early realisation of the common objectives for which the organisation was founded.
The majority of ECO countries are making rapid progress towards achieving many of the MDGs which will help improve literacy, infant and maternal health and reduce poverty, he added.
He said Pakistan has achieved significant progress in human development, including the level of efficiency and equitable delivery of services and the extent of political empowerment.
Human resource development and poverty reduction has been encompassing objective of the government policies and programmes specifically focused on reducing poverty and satisfying basic needs of the poor in terms of shelter, health and education, reducing gender gap etc.
He added that the high economic growth, targeted programmes for poverty reduction and significant increase in expenditure lifted a large number of poor households out of poverty. He said incidence of poverty has reduced from 34.5 percent in 2001 to 23.9 percent in 2005. The country has made steady progress towards most of the social indicators; particularly those covered by the MDGs.
Hasan Taherain, Deputy Secretary General ECO, speaking on the occasion, said the organisation is committed to take necessary measures regarding MDGs and HRD and attention is being paid on the issue.
"The organisation is preparing a concept report to promote co-operation among member states and in this regard areas of co-operation are being identified. Partnership is a key, to achieve set goals, he said, and hoped that meeting will prove to be fruitful in enhancing co-operation among members states."