Finance
Minister Ishaq Dar has said that Pakistan is committed to the objective of
regional connectivity as it believes that the future of people of the region
lies in greater connectivity with each other’s markets.
The
Minister was addressing Inaugural Session of CAREC Institute here Thursday.
The
Finance Minister said that Pakistan seeks to expand trade and investment links
with the region in the East, West and Central Asia. It aims to expand oil and
gas pipelines, infrastructure, electricity grids and transport networks with
these regions so as to create employment opportunities and accelerate growth.
Minister Dar called upon the member countries to expedite work on the proposals
made by the Prime Minister of Pakistan to accelerate cooperation among the
member states in the areas of Aviation, Capital Markets and Capacity
Development.
Reiterating
Pakistan’s strong commitment to the CAREC Program, Ishaq Dar said
that enhanced regional cooperation will play a vital role in Pakistan’s
economic success in the future. Referring to the CPEC initiative he said that
it is a milestone in regional connectivity which will not
only benefit Pakistan and China but the whole region and beyond. He
complimented the Chinese leadership for the One Belt One Road initiative as
well as its role in the establishment of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
(AIIB), as a new multilateral institution to address the infrastructure
financing needs of countries in the Asian continent.
Finance Minister described the Inauguration of the CAREC Institute
as a major step in enhancing regional cooperation and achieving the common
goals envisioned under the CAREC Program. He thanked the Government of the
People’s Republic of China, the Government of the Xinjiang Uyghur Region, and
the people of China for their warm reception and generous hospitality in the
vibrant city of Urumqi, and also for hosting the CAREC Institute. He also
appreciated the efforts of Asian Development Bank, under the leadership of
President Nakao, and CAREC members for the institutional support to CAREC, and
for making this important event possible.
