Pakistan's Economy is expected to remain strong in 2008, growing at 6.5 per cent, despite several challenges, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) reported. The ESCAP launched its flagship publication "Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2008" in more than 20 capitals in the region, in New York and Geneva this week.

The survey was launched in Pakistan at a press briefing held at the United Nations Information Centre. The survey entitled "Sustaining Growth and Sharing Prosperity", addresses most important current issues facing the region including Pakistan.

It says that 218 million - a third of the region's poor, largely living in rural areas - could be taken out of poverty by raising agricultural productivity if governments address decades  of policy neglect and failure in the agriculture sector. The survey also calls for a comprehensive liberalization of global trade in agriculture, as this would take 48 million people out of poverty in the region.

It said that growth would be close to the seven per cant expansion recorded in 2007 and the 6.6 per cent in 2006. The sustained growth also highlights the impact of economic reforms and policies over recent years. In just a few years, sound macroeconomic policies have transformed Pakistan's consumption-led growth impetus to one which investment - led growth can consume a more important role.