Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Tuesday gave a wake-up call to communication departments of the country to bring the road and rail networks, ports and airports at par with the international standards.
"Infrastructure development in the country is vital, and we need communication links of international quality to enhance our business and trade efficiency," he told journalists at PM House after a meeting held to review the strategic framework to sustain national economic growth through improved logistic chain.
The Prime Minister said that the government was working to improve the north-south corridor, strengthen logistics chain, and to revamp Karachi port and Port Qasim, besides improving airports.
He said that Task Force on National Trade Corridor, constituted 30 days back, comprising representatives of Railways, Ports and Shipping, Commerce, Communications and Private Sector, had been asked to improve trade logistics to international levels. "The current cost of logistics is still high," he added.
He referred to the recent World Bank report that raised Pakistan's rating in cost of doing business category, and added: "We desire to cut the cost of travelling and save on precious fuel and time."
The Prime Minister said that less expensive ports, trucking fleets, and quick custom clearance facilities were vital for improving the logistic chain. The rail network has to be made more efficient to carry increased share of cargo, he added.
"Shipping of containers from Karachi to Lahore in a week's time is not good enough," he said.
Shaukat said the Task Force would work under the Planning Commission and would meet every two months. He said he would personally review the performance every two months and ensure that highest international standards were being adhered to.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Commerce Humayun Akhtar, Minister for Communication Shamim Siddiqui, Minister for Railways Shamim Haider, Minister of State for Economic Affairs Division Hina Rabbani Khar and senior government officials.
Meanwhile, Shaukat said the government has not removed any portions dealing with religion from the curriculum. However, if any such instances were pointed these can be looked into, he told reporters at the Prime Minister House.
"No one should have any doubt and no amendments dealing with the religion are being made in the curriculum. However, if there are any specific instance, we will look into it."
The prime minister said the government believes in dealing with all issues in a democratic manner whether it is related to curriculum or any other matter.
About his meeting with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) leaders in his chamber, he said, they discussed the need of having good relations between the government and the opposition.
The prime minister said the third phase of local bodies polls would be conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner and invited national and international observers to monitor the event. He, however, added, "Unfortunately we do not have the culture of conceding defeat."
In the meantime, a press release of the Population Welfare Ministry said that the prime minister has constituted a national commission for population welfare.
MQM TEAM MEETS PRIME MINISTER Prime Minister Shuakat Aziz has said local government system was playing an important role in improving the governance and helped resolve problems at local level.
He was talking to a delegation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement led by its parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Dr Farooq Sattar here on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister said government was developing major cities under urban renewal programme to improve infrastructure and provide basic facilities to all those cities.
Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpur Khas and other major cities, he said, would benefit under this programme. The political situation as well as matters relating to the coalition and upcoming legislative agenda of National Assembly also came under discussion during the meeting.