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Escap's 52nd session opens

Pakistan's average

growth rate quite

respectable: Qureshi

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan's average economic growth rate of six percent annually over the years was quite respectable.

This was stated by the Minister on the opening day of the Ministerial segment of the 52nd Annual Session of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP), in Bangkok on Monday.

Qureshi was also elected as Vice Chairman of the Commission for the year 1996. Theme topic for this year's session was "Rural poverty alleviation and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific." Briefing about the economic situation of Pakistan, he said that economic and social survey and Asia and the Pacific 1996 indicates that Pakistan's growth performance up to 1992 was well over 7 percent per year. If Pakistan's growth rate during the last 40 years in tabulated it gives an average figure of about 6% which is quite respectable when compared with other countries in South Asia.

The Minister said the bane of poverty which mostly afflicts the developing countries continues to be a source of great concern and discontent the world over. That is why we are marking 1996 as the International year for the Eradication of Poverty.

He said the Pakistan government has fixed a growth target of 7 percent for its Eighth Five Year Plan (1993-98) and the Perspective Plan 1993-2000 thus leading to better distribution of income.

However, in order to have maximum impact, high growth is being supplemented by efforts to improve distribution of income. The incentives framework is being made attractive in terms of input and output prices supported by appropriate physical and economic infrastructure to enable the landless peasants, small farm holders, artisans, and others to get equitable return for their toll.

Pakistan's key programme to alleviate poverty is the Social Action Programme (SAP). This programme with an allocation of $ 3 billion within 8th Five year Plan (1993- 98) is for the social sector through which the government intends to overcome its past deficiencies in social and human resource development and consequently enhance the capabilities of the poor to increase their productivity and incomes.

He said the SAP focuses on the needs of basic education, primary health, nutrition, population planning and rural Water Supply and Sanitation.

It was launched in 1992/93 aims at: (i) significant increase in social development expenditure for social sectors, (ii) increased provision for current expenditure to improve quality and (iii) initiation of institutional reforms to overcome implementation bottle- necks.

He congratulated the Chairperson on her unanimous election to chair and 52nd Annual Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

Madame Chairperson, may I, on behalf of my delegation, convey our deep appreciation to the people and the Royal Government of Thailand for the warm welcome extended to us. The pleasant and friendly environment of this beautiful city will, no doubt, have a salutary impact on the outcome of the session. We are grateful to his excellency Banharn Silpa-Archa, the Prime Minister of Thailand for his inspiring inaugural address and gracious words of welcome.-APP