By By Our Correspondent
REPRESENTATIVE of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pakistan Mengesha Kabede called on Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif here on Saturday.
Besides matters of relief and rehabilitation of Afghan refugees, displaced persons of Swat, Malakand and Waziristan, different matters of mutual interest came under discussion during the meeting.
Talking to the UNHCR representative, Mr Shahbaz said the whole nation helped the displaced persons during Swat and Malakand operations and the Punjab government provided them with medicines, flour and other necessities of life.
He said the people of Punjab donated generously for the assistance to the affected people and Rs 750 million were deposited in his account set up for the purpose. He said he was very thankful to people of the province for their generosity and added that each penny of the donations would be utilised in a transparent manner.
The chief minister said the Punjab government was constructing the Balochistan Institute of Cardiology in Quetta, equipped with the latest facilities at a cost of Rs 2 billion and the foundation stone of the project had been laid. He said a modern hospital would also be set up in Swat at a cost of Rs 750 million and the NWFP government had provided land in this regard. He said the hospitals in Quetta and Swat would be a gift from the people of Punjab for their brethren of Balochistan and the NWFP.
The CM said that after relief efforts for the internally displaced persons of Malakand and Swat, measures were being taken for the relief displaced persons of Waziristan and for this purpose, a special committee had been formed under the supervision of Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa. He said flour, medical facilities and other necessities of life were also being provided to the displaced persons of Waziristan. The chief minister assured the UNHCR representative of complete cooperation from the Punjab government in relief and rehabilitation activities.
Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa informed about the details of the measures taken regarding relief and rehabilitation of the IDPs from Waziristan. Mengesha Kabede informed the Punjab chief minister about the details of activities of the UNHCR. He said the UNHCR was also looking after the Afghan refugees besides taking steps for relief and rehabilitation of displaced persons of Swat and Waziristan. He appreciated the chief minister’s projects of setting up of hospitals in Quetta and Swat.
Agri, livestock sectors: Pakistan’s High Commissioner Designate to Australia Fauzia Nasreen called on Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif here on Saturday. Talking to the High Commissioner designate, the chief minister said that she (Ms Fauzia) had a vast experience of diplomacy and would play her role effectively for cooperation between Pakistan and Australia in various sectors and promotion of relations between the two countries. He said Punjab had great opportunities of development in agriculture and livestock sectors and expertise and Australia expertise could beneficial in the sectors. He said that by promoting agriculture and livestock sectors, the country could be progress and eliminate unemployment and poverty. He said after taking charge of her office at Australia, the high commissioner should inform Australian companies about the investment opportunities in the abovementioned sectors and for this purpose, public-private partnership would be encouraged.
Mr Shahbaz said that by installing modern plants of dairy products and exporting these products to the Middle East and other countries, financial condition of farmers could be improved. He said a delegation from Punjab could also be sent to Australia to benefit from its experiences and skills for the uplift of livestock sector.
Ms Fauzia Nasreen said she would take all the possible measures for further strengthening the ties between Australia and Pakistan and would motivate Australian investors for cooperation in different sectors. She said she had also collected some necessary information from the Livestock secretary regarding investment in the sector while she would also meet secretaries of Irrigation and agriculture department.