EAST PAKISTAN MINISTER

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25679, 16 December 1948, Page 6

EAST PAKISTAN MINISTER

STUDY OF N.Z. RURAL PROBLEMS

INTEREST IN SOCIAL SECURITY

(P.A.) ROTOHUA, December 15. . “We have to do a lot to raise the standard of livirig in our country,” said Mr Hamid U 1 Haq Chaudri, Minister of Finance and Industries in the East Pakistan Government, in an interview in Rotorua to-day. He said that during his visit to New Zealand on behalf of his Government, he hoped to learn details of rural and commercial problems common to East Pakistan and New Zealand. Both were countries dependent largely on primary production. “My object is to find out which plans and schemes in operation here are adaptable to our country,” he said. Accompanied by his secretary (Mr W. A. Kadri) and Mr E. B. Glanville, of the Department of Agriculture. Mr Chaudri has visited rural projects, dairy factories, and hydro-electric plants since his arrival on Monday. He was especially interested in the Karapiro hydro works as Pakistan is preparing for large-scale hydro development. Mr Chaudri said that social security was also a matter in which he was concerned, as Pakistan intended to operate similar schemes. “But it may be something of a problem as we have a population of SO.OOO.OOO.” He added that he looked forward to a closer relationship between New Zealand and Pakistan through trade and commerce on a reciprocal basis. Mr Chaudri and Mr Kadri will leave Auckland by air to-morrow for Sydney on their return to Pakistan.