Apr 03 , 2015
News
Economic indicators improving with each passing day: PM
APPISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday that “despite the enormous challenges inherited by the government in 2013, its prudent policies have led to an improvement in all economic indicators with each passing day”.
Talking to a delegation of World Bank led by Vice President Annette Dixon here the PM House, the prime minister said Pakistan’s macro economic situation was improving, inflation was at the lowest level in past 13 years, and foreign exchange reserves were considerably up while fiscal deficit is down. The prime minister said the present government has energy, education, economy and eliminating extremism as its top priorities. The prime minister thanked World Bank for continued support for Pakistan. He said government has taken decisive steps against terrorism and extremism. Pakistan has suffered enormously at the hands of terrorism both in terms of financial losses as well as loss of human lives. “We have broken the back of terrorists by destroying their sanctuaries and hideouts,” he said.
Talking about Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs), he said the government was committed to help restore lives and livelihoods of TDPs affected by Operation Zarb-e-Azb. He appreciated World Bank’s financial support for the TDPs. Dixon congratulated the prime minister on Pakistan’s economic indicators after 2013 and said there was huge potential especially in agriculture and dairy sectors. She said World Bank has scaled up its support for Pakistan due to better economic conditions in the country. Dixon appreciated the steps taken by the government in improving relations with Afghanistan and said this would contribute towards lasting peace in the region.
She also informed the prime minister about her visit to Lahore and meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and visit to BISP office. Apprising Nawaz of her meeting with members of the business community in Lahore, she said they were appreciative that economic situation in Pakistan has stabilized and appeared keen to have increased opportunities in all fields. The delegation also extended their condolences on the terrorist attack at Army Public School, Peshawar. Other members of the delegation included Rachid Benmessaoud, Country Director and Hassan Zaman, Senior Regional Adviser. Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar; Finance Secretary Waqar Masood Khan; Economic Affairs Division Secretary Muhammad Saleem Sethi and World Bank Executive Director Nasir Khosa were also present during the meeting.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk