RURAL PRODUCTS IN N.Z. INTEREST PAKISTAN GOVT.

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22821, 16 December 1948, Page 6

RURAL PRODUCTS IN N.Z. INTEREST PAKISTAN GOVT.

IP. A.)

ROTORUA, Dec. 16

"We have to do a lot to raise the standard of living in our country,” said the Hon. Hamid ul Haq Chaudri, Minister of Finance and Industries in the East Pakistan Government, in a special interview at Rotorua yesterday. He was expressing the purpose of his visit to New Zealand on behalf of his State Government, during which he hoped to learn details of rural and commercial problems common to East Pakistan and. New Zealand, both being countries dependant 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, dairyfactories and hydro-electric plants since his arrival on Monday, He was specially interested in the Karapiro hydro-electric scheme, as Pakistan was preparing for large-scale hydro development, too. Social security is also a matter in which he is concerned, as Pakistan intends to operate similar schemes. “But it may be something of a problem,” said Mr. Chaudri. “As we have a population of 80,000,000.” Mr. Chaudri said that he looked forward to a closer relationship between New Zealand and Pakistan through trade and commerce on a reciprocal basis. Mr. Chaudri was to leave Auckland by air today for Sydney, en route to Pakistan via Calcutta, where he is expected to arrive about Sunday.