Economic activities will continue despite terror challenges: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information and Transport Iftikhar Hussain has said that the economic activities would continue despite challenges of terrorism and other issues, and added that the terrorists could not succeed in their nefarious mission, which was aimed to bring economic and political instability in the country.
Addressing the certificates distribution ceremony among the outgoing students of the Gems and Geological Institute of Pakistan (GGIP) here on Saturday, he said that the provincial government had initiated a soft loan scheme for local skilled manpower for promotion and development of their business in the province.
Through this initiative, he expressed hope that job opportunities would be created and economy position of the province would also be strengthened. He said that the skilled manpower relating to gemstones would also benefit from this scheme. Officials of Trade Development Authority, provincial chief of Smeda Javed Iqbal Khattak and president of All Pakistan Commercial Exporters Association of rough and unpolished precious and semi precious stones were also present on this occasion.
The minister said that the province has immense potential in natural resources. He stressed the need for using new technology to develop and strengthen gemstones business in the province, saying that the commercial export association would be taken on board for expansion in this regard.
Referring the current scenario, he emphasised that there was needed to face the prevailing situation with conscious instead of emotions as if any petty ignorance and mistake could prove a big disaster. "We are against terrorism and those who were backing, finance and assistance them," he added.
"Our political and military leadership has chalked out a future strategy," he said, and expressed hope that the joint approach would yield positive results in future. The minister said that the GGIP should submit their demands in writing so that it could be taken up with the concerned authorities for fulfilment. Later, the minister visited laboratories of GGIP and seen different process of cutting and polishing and finishing of gemstones.