Pakistan launches projects worth $500mn in Afghanistan

Pakistan’s Minister for Planning, Development and Reform has announced the launch of projects worth USD 500mn in Afghanistan.

Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the projects covered various sectors including education, health and infrastructure.

According to Pakistan’s local media, Pakistani government has also offered 3,000 scholarships to Afghan students in different universities.

Citing minister Iqbal, the report adds that 100 Afghan students would study in the Lahore University of Management Sciences.

The Pakistani officials made these remarks in his address to an Afghan delegation comprising academicians, lawmakers, students and civil society members.

Iqbal called for greater exchanges of scholars, artists, businessmen and others to boost relations between the nations.

“We have to start a new chapter in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations by focussing on social and economic dimensions of the friendship,” said Iqbal.

He also added that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would play an important role in bringing people of the region closer besides improving economy of the entire region.

“If an untoward incident happens in Afghanistan, Pakistan will be the first country to feel its heat and it will affect the rest of the world later on,” he added.