Aug 15, 2009

Pakistan can serve as economic hub: Zardari

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of a liquid cargo terminal at Port Qasim, the president said Pakistani ports could be expanded to cater for the needs of Central Asia and Middle East.

The terminal is a joint venture between Malaysian and Pakistani companies.

The president said that Pakistani ports in proximity to Indian states could benefit their industry and a similar advantage could accrue to China. Indian ports could not cater to the needs of central Indian states because of long distance, he added.

He said that since all Chinese ports were in the Sea of China, half of the country was too far from these ports but was in proximity to Pakistani ports.

He said the government was considering laying down a pipeline to carry liquid cargo, including petroleum products, from Pakistani ports to China.

The president said the government was focussing on increasing agriculture production in the wake of global food shortage. ‘Even big countries have started facing food shortages and Pakistan cannot ignore this.’

Mr Zardari said that Pakistan with the help of China was working on how to make best utilisation of water resources and within next two and a half years new varieties of seeds would be used to improve yields.

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