Pakistan is importing 250,000 tons of pulses to meet domestic requirements, Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance Dr. Salman Shah said. The private sector would be encouraged to import pulses, which would help decrease the price of pulses in the open market, Shah told state-run Pakistan Television. The advisor said 400,000 job opportunities would be created under the “Rozegar [employment] Scheme.” He said under the scheme youth will get loan for self-employment. They will be able to set up public call offices, utility stores and own transport, he added. Shah said that the government has allocated Rs 35 billion for Khushal [prosperous] Pakistan Programme for the fiscal 2006-07. The money will be spent on roads and electrification in rural areas, water supply, gas, health, sanitation and levelling of lands for irrigation, the advisor said.
