Pakistan a force multiplier for regional economies: Zardari

President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday said the strategic location of Pakistan with the shortest and easiest access to the world’s two largest economies of China and India, a productive workforce of over 60 percent youth in a population of around 200 million and liberal economic and political policies had made the country a force multiplier for the economies of the region straddling across China, India and Middle East.
“Pakistan is also contributing towards regional and global peace with its blood and sweat by fighting the militancy in order to enable entrepreneurs invest in an environment of peace and stability,” the president said while addressing a plenary interactive session of the World Economic Forum at the Dead Sea resort.
The session titled “A Conversation with the President of Pakistan” was conducted by Prof Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, who introduced President Zardari and then opened the floor for questions. During the interactive session, Zardari spoke on a host of issues of regional and international importance as well as about the potential of Pakistani youth not only in the socio-economic development of the country, but also contributing in economies of various countries.
Spokesperson to the president Farhatullah Babar quoted the president as saying that with the migration of Indian and Chinese citizens back to their respective countries, Pakistani younger generation could fill the gap. He said Pakistan was the second largest exporter of doctors to the United States, adding that the government under its Benazir Income Support Programme would train more youth through vocational programmes for prospective jobs all over the world.
Babar said the president apprised the participants about various programmes of BISP, under which women and poor segments of the society were being empowered through financial and technical assistance. The president said since the 21st century would be dominated by Asia, Pakistan’s geo-political location being a gateway to Central Asia and providing access to warm waters, was a regional strength.
He said Pakistan was at the centre of the most natural energy corridor to feed industries and homes of half of the world population. The president said that in a world dominated by market economies and energy, there were huge advantages and opportunities for Pakistan and global entrepreneurs, Babar said. Pakistani ports also serve as a natural gateway to the vast markets in Central Asia, he added.
The president also spoke about political economy and negative impact of increased global industrialisation on the environment, resulting in unprecedented floods causing losses worth billions of rupees. President Zardari said Pakistan has rendered huge sacrifices in the war against terrorism and militancy.
The president recollected how militants were created by the international community to fight the rival ideology of former Soviet Union in the region by employing religious fanaticism and drugs as war weapons, and after winning the war abandoned Pakistan and the region.