Monday, May 07, 2012
Kabul (BNA) In order to prevent its economic growth after completion of security transition, Afghanistan has its solution that would reduce its negative impacts.
Usage of the mines, building of railways and power plants and extension of gas and pipeline are positive measures that would affect economic growth.
Mohammad Mustafa Mastur, deputy finance minister told media that the World Bank concerns pertaining Afghanistan’s economic growth in 2014 will reduce almost 4% is not justified as we have already adopted measures that would considerably reduce negative effects on our economy.
Mastur added that I assure my people that economic growth at present and in future will not be that much to raise concern.
Abdul Rauf Zia spokesperson of the World Bank in Afghanistan in his recent press conference told the media that Afghanistan’s economic growth after 2014 will reduce and the World Bank is committed to its continued assistance to Afghanistan and annually from USD 150 million to USD200 million will be assisted to Afghanistan.
This decision has been taken on the basis of new policy of the World Bank for the coming three years.
The WB argues that domestic sources, economic growth and creation of job opportunities are best options for international community aid that would be reduced after withdrawal of the foreign troops.
However, Mustafa Mastur said that presently we are working on a proposal so we can reach the economic growth reduction to its least percentage after 2104.
He reiterated the WB in the second Bonn Conference anticipated a limited economic growth for Afghanistan as it has been dependent on foreign aid.
They said that after 2014 when the security process is complete assistance to Afghanistan will reduce and this will affect its economic growth as well.
According to Mastur they were concerned over Afghanistan’s economic growth but we are not concerned for if the political and security situation improve in 2014 there is much possibility that assistance of the world community is channeled at its present pace as well.
On the other hand we were anticipating economic crisis so we have our programs and plan for this and we have five percent growth annually. Mastur compared the growth with the neighboring countries of Pakistan and Iran and says that Pakistan’s economic growth is 2.2% and that of Iran 2.5 and this indicates that we are in a better shape.
He added that in the past three to six months the maximum value of assistance to Afghanistan enabled us to gain even up to 10% growth.
During the current year it is anticipated at 7.4% and the ministry of finance feels that even five percent growth is also satisfactory for us.
Hamidullah Faruqi lecturer of the faculty of economy and economic analyst views that anticipation of the World Bank towards Afghanistan has been optimistic while its threat has not been taken into account and the judgment that economic growth will be between 3 to 4% is threatening new financial crisis.
He added that the government of Afghanistan should take into account the objective realities and seek new resource sources and make rational use of them.
As regards limited economic growth of the neighbors said that their growth is based on domestic products and they are stale and changeable but our economy is based and dependent on foreign aid that is vulnerable all the time and this is not a guaranteed economy and can face challenges any time and bear unpleasant repercussions as this is threatened by the insecurity.
What is stated are based on figures, but it is important that the people of Afghanistan are currently faced with immense economic problems and after 2014 will be more bitter than present and they argue that the government as its obligation towards the people and the international community is morally bound to adopt national measures so the people access to a relative economic condition.
