The NWFP Senior Minister Siraj-ul-Haq has called upon the international donor agencies and investors to take benefit of the congenial and peaceful atmosphere as well as geological importance of NWFP and invest with full confidence. The provincial government will ensure protection to the life, property, and benefits of investors as such, he added.
Addressing the 2nd session on the first day of two-day NWFP Development Forum arranged by the World Bank at local hotel on Thursday, he said that due to the realistic and people friendly policies of the MMA government, law and order situation had been improved and political stability ensured in the province. Moreover, all the national and public affairs were disposed off with understanding and active consultation with assembly members and political elite yielding very encouraging results.
The Senior Minister said that NWFP was replete with precious natural resources. Its water resources, forestry, tourism, precious minerals, unique medicinal plants, manpower and above all its geographical location in respect of access to Afghanistan and Central Asian States. He disseminated open message and invitation to the investors and tourists on international level to come here and chose their concerned sectors for investment. He said that provincial government would welcome international investment over here while it had also started developing tourism sectors and training its manpower that would considerably help in promoting the investment over here.
Siraj regretted that world community after Afghan war and defeat of USSR pulled hands from their help along with millions of Afghan refugees due to which their already weak economy was further deteriorated while corruption of the past rulers added to the miseries as well. He said that MMA government changed and controlled the situation in positive by its policies of maintaining peace, strict financial discipline and Jihad against corruption. However, he said that provincial government needed the help of federal government and international donnor agencies for more tangible results.
The Senior Minister while welcoming the holding of Provincial Development Forum by the World Bank and participation of delegates from international donor and investment agencies said that 20 million poor people of NWFP rightly pinned great hopes and fruitful results of this important event.
He also answered various queries of local and foreign participants on this occasion. The forum was participated by delegates from WB, ADB, SDC, DFID, GTZ, European Commission, USAID, SRSP, NCHD, IUCN, RIPORT, Smeda, Ceda, SCCI, French and UAE Embassies, Canadian High Commission and many other local and foreign donor bodies who appreciated financial and planning strategies of the provincial government.
NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani and State Minister for Finance Umar Ayub Khan and Chief Secretary Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi also addressed the function.