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Subject: Pakistan To Become Next Asian Tiger
TopGun    9/5/2006 6:22:29 PM
Walker's World: Pakistan poised to become Asian tiger By Martin Walker UPI Editor Emeritus Published June 5, 2006 WASHINGTON -- War is not often seen as a source of economic growth, but Pakistan seems likely to emerge as one of the main beneficiaries of the Bush administration's War on Terror. As a front-line state and major base for the U.S.-led campaign in Afghanistan, Pakistan has enjoyed U.S. financial support that has paved the way for new private investment and is turning the country's period of military rule into an economic success story. The publication Monday of the Pakistan government's budget demonstrates this dramatic change in the country's financial fortunes, with surging growth and new investment plans that suggest the world's second most populous Islamic nation is poised to join China and India as one of Asia's new "tiger" economies. The Persian Gulf sheikhdom of Dubai is to invest an initial $10 billion in Pakistan's boom, mainly in property, port and transport development, a sum that may triple to $30 billion if current negotiations succeed. The World Bank, now run by former U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz who urged heavy U.S. financial support of Pakistan when the country was being wooed after the Sept. 11 attacks as a key partner in the war on terror, is now doubling its own investment loans to $6.5 billion. The government is also to increase its own development budget by 50 percent. Salman Shah, economic adviser to Pakistan's prime minister, announced in a press conference Sunday that the country's gross domestic product has grown at an annual rate of 6.6 percent in the latest fiscal year. "This year also the economy has shown a solid growth in spite of major setbacks during the year," Shah said, citing the massive earthquake that killed some 70,000 people last October and the dizzying climb in oil and commodity prices. Pakistan's growth rate has averaged an annual 7 percent over the past four years, helping lift almost 20 million of Pakistan's 150 million people out of poverty. The proportion of Pakistanis officially calculated as living below the population has fallen from over a third to less than a quarter in the past five years, Shah said. Pakistan's take-off began with the War on Terror, starting with the war to topple the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in 2001. That triggered a big U.S. aid program, starting with $91 million in the first year and rising steadily to $706 million in 2005. "The U.S. forgave all bilateral debts to Pakistan, helped reschedule debts involving multinational lenders, provided billions in economic and military assistance, and encouraged international banks to provide even larger amounts of aid. As a result, Pakistan's foreign debt declined from $47.8 billion to $30.3 billion (today's estimate). Foreign exchange reserves, boosted largely by the transfer of large sums of money from expatriate Pakistanis, rose to $12 billion," notes Dr Ahmad Faruqui, research director at the American Institute of International Studies U.S. and international funds were joined by private investment from the Arab world and the Gulf states as the military government of President Gen. Pervez Musharraf launched a program of economic reform and privatization. Pakistan Telecom was privatized last year, with the bulk of the shares being bought by companies based in the United Arab Emirates. Already closely linked to the oil-rich Gulf economies through some 3 million Pakistani guest workers, Pakistan is now benefiting from new infrastructure investment. Dubai Ports World is bidding for the management contract to run the new Chinese-built port of Gwadar, near Pakistan's frontier with Iran on the Indian Ocean, and other Gulf companies are investing in the new road and rail links from Gwadar to China and Central Asia. President Musharraf is now seeking to emulate India's success in the high-tech and IT sectors, telling the annual OPEN Silicon Valley conference Saturday that "a network of infrastructure is in place to serve as trade and energy corridor for the landlocked Central Asia, South Asia, the Gulf region and China." "We have put in place an elaborate IT infrastructure; connected cities and towns to the Internet; and three submarine cables are to further enrich the IT scenario," Musharraf said. "On top of it, we have talented English-speaking graduates, which are an asset for the country and international investors." "Pakistan today is in an altogether different league economically," Musharraf told the conference by video. "It has been put firmly on path of high economic growth with its GDP having more than doubled to $135 billion and all macro-economic indicators including exports, revenue collection, foreign investment, foreign exchange reserves staying positive." Pakistan's
 
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Europa    Pakistan trusted US ally   9/6/2006 5:22:42 PM
Interesting article and very good analogy.  The Korean, Vietnam war while it spelled disaster for some countries, was boom time for others which acted as logistic headworks like the article states.  I also believe that the influx of aid, FDI and payment for the many services that Pakistan is offering to the international community from logistical support, to intelligence, transport, even food for the IFOR forces are all impacting positively on this trusted American Ally.  And why not, Pakistan has many difficulties and problems of its own, it needs assistance and support while it reaches its true potential.  The US needs to help this important muslim nation, and more importantly help it in a manner similar to what the US has done with Turkey, or even a marshal-like plan.  Unlike other countries in the Greater Middle East, Pakistan is multicultural and has a dynamic economy (despite having no oil), and hopefully with the return to democracy, will be a good role model for other regional countries especially neighbooring Iran and Afghanistan/Central Asia.  With a robust economy, it will steer many of those below the poverty line, especially in the border regions with Afghanistan/Kashmir towards contributing more positively to the mainstream economy.  Also, with strong economic activity, Pakistan has the ability to set itself apart from its neighboors, enter the order of the middle income country bracket group and usher in an era of economic prosperity.  It will allow it to improve its internal situation, have better control of its borders, raise its literacy rate, reduce debt amongst the many other positive dividends it will initiate.  A required prerequisite for a strong, moderate,  healthy and dynamic nation, something that we all want to see. :)
 
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Herc the Merc    Pakistan just surrendered to Taleban   9/6/2006 5:39:04 PM
Europa Pak military agreed to pull out. Also they know where Osama is but decline to help some Pak guy on CBS interview today, said if people (even terrorists) live in Pak peacefully they have no problems.
 
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olive greens       9/6/2006 6:19:30 PM

What a B$ article!
Foreign exchange reserves, boosted largely by the transfer of large sums of money from expatriate Pakistanis, rose to $12 billion," notes Dr Ahmad Faruqui, research director at the American Institute of International Studies

This is just the inch-long tip of the iceberg the author is proposing navigating ships full of gold towards. If it werent so self-fulfilling, it would actually be quite funny: Seeing a Westerner giving a standing-applause to a country that is voting "no-confidence" in its every interaction with the West.

Leave apart the fact that 75% of Pakistani graduates prefer a Communist country like China as their hope for the future, or the fact that 80% of Pakistani college students think Bin Laden is their only guarentee of continued engagement (what a bunch of budding Machevellis, if only they paid as much attention to the diplomas they will be receiving shortly!), what surpises me is their astonishing unoriginialtiy in their poor excuses for continued charity!

Pakistani intellectuals have justified 3 military dictators now, each time promising an iSlamic South Korea. Between 1971 and 1972 Pakistan got rid of the poorest 50% of its population (dictator #1). Received a defacto 10 years of full military protection from the US during the Soviet-Afghan War (dictator #2). Now dictator #3 is in spotlight because some mad mullah promised 19 dum@sses 72 virgins... and his cronies are still chanting the "South Korea" chant!
 
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Europa    What??what are u saying? speak english!   9/6/2006 6:34:31 PM

Europa Pak military agreed to pull out. Also they know where Osama is but decline to help some Pak guy on CBS interview today, said if people (even terrorists) live in Pak peacefully they have no problems.



I have no idea what the hell you saying.  Your incoherent and your comment make nooo sense at all

, either your in the wrong forum or your on the wrong planet dude. 
 
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chupooey    peace deal is the best   9/7/2006 3:44:07 AM
peace deal without compromising the prinicpal stand,  is the best thing to do in this time. the military compaign did not help any one for all five years. bottom line is to live peacefully be at the fear of military compaign or boud by agreements. PM has always gone for peace deals first, failing to which they have done what is required. a recent example is too obvious to cite here. you indians should also learn from this. try breaking deals with people in nagaland / manipur or keep on seeing crackers cracking on independence day.
 
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Jawan       9/7/2006 5:23:16 AM




Europa Pak military agreed to pull out. Also they know where Osama is but decline to help some Pak guy on CBS interview today, said if people (even terrorists) live in Pak peacefully they have no problems.





I have no idea what the hell you saying.  Your incoherent and your comment make nooo sense at all


, either your in the wrong forum or your on the wrong planet dude.

U dont understand!! ?? Funny, i thought u lot starting speaking English right from ur moma's womb!!!!!ok Let me Help U OUT:
This should look like this:

"Europa, Pak military agreed to pull out. Also, they know where Osama is, but decline to help. Some Pak guy on CBS interview today said if people (even terrorists) live in Pak peacefully, they have no problems."

Now do u UNDERSTAND, u madarasa-educated S**tHEAD!! Now tccch, lemme put it in different sentences for u:

Europa, Pak military agreed to pull out.
Also, they know where Osama is, but decline to help.
Some Pak guy on CBS interview today said if people (even terrorists) live in Pak peacefully, they have no problems.

Now u understand, GOOD BOY!!! :))) Guess who is on THE WRONG PLANET!!!! YOUU



 
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chupooey    when did you start speaking english?   9/7/2006 8:40:14 AM
Europa Pak military agreed to pull out. Also they know where Osama is but decline to help some Pak guy on CBS interview today, said if people (even terrorists) live in Pak peacefully they have no problems.
 
__________________________________________________________________________
 
well if you were born in a wealthy educated family who could support you in a costly english medium school and could teach you good english unlike millions of those indians which are born at footpaths and die at footpaths, looking at you proud english speeking babus all their lives. it does not mean that you write texts in form that is only comprehendable to you.
 
Europa Pak military agreed to pull out. (its a news item)
Also they know where Osama is but decline to help  (this is your personal view item)
some Pak guy on CBS interview today, said if people (even terrorists) live in Pak peacefully they have no problems. (again some body's view or piece of his view picked up by your ever ill intended mind)
 
as per agreement, there will be no harbouring of foreigners
there will be no corss border action
there would be no attack on pakistani military or civil establishment.
 
its a written and signed accord, widely available in all the media including yours . but i wonder why do people close there eyes when they see some thing which they do want to.
 
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Pakistan Power    You are a Moron--> Herc the Merc/Jawan    9/7/2006 11:25:32 AM
 
I would like to say, you must truly be a pathetic, ignorant moron.  This thread is discussing one issue , and you are discussing something completely different.  Go put your head on straight or go back to school and learn how to read again you retard. 
SO, I'll also assume that Herc the Merc and Jawan are one in the same pathetic morons as u reply to comments directed to both.  how low is that.  I find it funny that you have to use different usernames to back-up your  point of view!  lol! how pitiful for a country of over a billion people yet the same person is repeating the same crap over and over again. Doesnt speak highly.
 
 
 
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Pakistan Power    Pakistan will be next Asian Tiger   9/7/2006 11:31:24 AM
thanks for the post TOPGUN
 
I travelled to Pakistan last year and was amazed at the development taking place in the country!  At every corner you'll see new highrises, buildings and infrastructure.
Pakistans geostrategic location and innate strenghts help push it through rough times.  It is definately a country on the rise.  It has signed an economic pact with China which started this year in Jan. called Early Harvest Program which is linking the economies of these two dynamic nations.With its literacy rate rocking up recently!  you'll also see a similar boom in its economy. If stability can be maintained and like someone posted before, a return to democracy, Pakistan is well on its way to success
 
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Jawan       9/8/2006 3:36:46 AM

 

I would like to say, you must truly be a pathetic, ignorant moron.  This thread is discussing one issue , and you are discussing something completely different.  Go put your head on straight or go back to school and learn how to read again you retard. 

SO, I'll also assume that Herc the Merc and Jawan are one in the same pathetic morons as u reply to comments directed to both.  how low is that.  I find it funny that you have to use different usernames to back-up your  point of view!  lol! how pitiful for a country of over a billion people yet the same person is repeating the same crap over and over again. Doesnt speak highly.

 Idiots and fools are so common in Pakiland, and you have just proved that fact.!!!! Madarasa talk, nothing else u can offer but personal attacks!! tcchhh. Get a life wilya. BTW Herc and myself are two different fellas seperated by 10000 miles. Hopefully ur pea-sized brain can understand that.

Your comments pretty much sum u up, PATHETIC, MORON, BEGGER, ZERO IQ, and hoping for 72 virgins!!!!!

Who is crapping, the world knows!!! and so do posters on this board!~!
 



 
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