Forecasting a growth of over 7 per cent during the current fiscal, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said the government was committed to undertaking further reforms to make India an active participant in the global economy.

"All our macro-economic indicators are robust and point to another year of over 7 per cent growth," Singh told a press conference in New Delhi.

Manmohan Singh said the government was moving towards fulfilling its promise to sustain a growth rate of 7-8 per cent and to generate employment.

"The government has ensured a growth of over 7 per cent and we will improve upon this," the prime minister said, adding that this in itself will generate more employment.

For strengthening the infrastructure, the prime minister said he expected an investment of over Rs 170,000 crore (Rs 1,700 billion) in the national highway programme in the next seven years.

"Our airports are buzzing with flights. Airports too are getting modernised with Hyderabad and Bangalore soon getting new airports," Singh said.

Govt mulls new pay commission

The government is considering setting up of a new pay commission for its employees, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said.

"The last pay commission was set up in 1994. The time has now come to set up a new commission and we are making preparations for it," he said at a press conference.

The prime minister said necessary steps are being taken in that direction.