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COVER STORY
PAKISTAN'S ECONOMY

Aug  05 - Aug 11, 2002   
ISSUE # 31  

The International Financial Institutions have repeatedly expressed their confidence in the resilience of Pakistan's economy. However, many Pakistanis still have negative perception about the economic fundamentals and credible performance of the economy, despite many odds. Dr. Ishrat Husain, Governor, State Bank of Pakistan, expressed satisfaction about the performance of economy in the post September 11, 2001, era and strong faith in the economic fundamentals enjoyed by the country. However, he also believes a lot more has to be done.



 

PAK-BANGLADESH
The visit of the President Pervez Musharraf to Bangladesh seems to be significant particularly for growth of trade volume as the two sides focused on trade and economic relations and greater market access of Bangladesh goods to the Pakistani market. Pakistan has agreed to provide tariff and duty free import of raw jute from Bangladesh. Pakistan also agreed to provide similar concession to import of tea from Bangladesh up to 10,000 tons per year provided the WTO provisions permit it.

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DRUG ABUSE
The over-supply of tranquilizers and their easy availability with total disregard to prescription is resulting in serious drug abuse by the youths. The inefficiency of the Health Ministry to keep track of excessive flow and over-supply is also resulting in massive smuggling into Iran and Afghanistan from where the drug is sneaking a number of European countries where the formula is completely banned for public use.
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