Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) Chairman Prof. Dr. Manzoor H.
Soomro chaired a session on Role of Public Infrastructure in Reshaping Asia's
Future”, on December 12 , 2012 during Fifth Sustainable Development Conference
titled “Sustainable Development in South Asia: Shaping the Future” organized by
Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in Islamabad at a local hotel
from December 11-13, 2012.
The speakers of this session included Dr. Yumei Zhang from
China, Dr. Nadia Tahir from University of Lahore, Mr. Naveed Iftikhar from
Ministry of Finance and Dr. Vaqar Ahmad from SDPI. Making transport and
communication infrastructure's comparison of regional countries, the PSF
Chairman, Prof. Dr. Manzoor H. Soomro, stressed the need for research studies in
situation analysis and need assessment for future planning to develop transport
and communication infrastructure in Pakistan.
Dr. Soomro said the researchers must collect independent data
for future plans. He said investment in infrastructure is vital to reshape Pakistan's
future. He said Pakistan is spending less than 0.5% of GDP in
Railways infrastructure as compared to 4% byIndia and 12.5% by China and
as the result China's railway system is considered number one in the
world. He also pointed out that Pakistan Railway's revenue and expenditures'
gap is widening day by day due to its less earning and increase in wages by the
government. He called for paying attention to these factors as well to improve
railway infrastructure in the country.
Dr. Yumi Zhang said China's growth rate is 10 percent per
annum and it is 2nd largest economy in the world. He said thoughChina is
2nd largest population of poor people, labor costs in China are
witnessing 10 percent increase each year.
Dr. Nadia Tahir said Pakistan Railway has great potential but
inefficiency is killing it. She said rail industry linkages are the answer to
growth of railway in Pakistan.
Talking about Pakistan's power sector, Mr. Naveed Iftikhar
said investment in this sector is badly needed. He said we will remain fragile
if we continued to depend on imported fuel. He said the government makes good
plans but there is no action on them and this trend should be revisited.
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