The Word of mAn[S]o0r

GeoTV Pakistan reported on the Annual Review by Salman Shah, Finance Advisor to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz

Pakistan posted robust growth of 6.6 percent during its fiscal year ending June 30 despite suffering from a massive earthquake and effects of soaring world oil prices, the government said Sunday. The Islamic republic of 155 million people reduced poverty by more than 10 percent and per capita income rose to 847 dollars from 579 dollars in 2002-3, according to an official economic survey.

Atleast according to the official figures... call me an optimist, but i would like to believe its true. Seeing the evidence of construction everywhere and job opening's everywhere (i know, unemployment is high too... but thats for another post) i think it just might be true..

However, if it pleases the naysayers.. there is also a mention of some of the downsides...

The survey said Pakistan's trade deficit was 8.6 billion dollars, up sharply from 4.3 billion dollars last year. The major contribution was imports of petroleum and its products by the energy starved nation (41.5 percent).

Despite a record 13.06 billion dollars in forex reserves and investment growth, inflation has brought the government under pressure particularly because of the hike in food prices.

Labels: speaking out

And so said mAn[S]o0r on Monday, June 05, 2006 at 12:03 PM | Permalink | |