News
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Govt working to bring economic turnaround: PM
* Gilani says talks being held for long-term economic reform plan
* Government committed to provide all facilities to investors
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said the government has started consultation with all the political parties to work out a comprehensive and long-term economic reform plan for accelerating pace of development and sustainable economic growth.
Talking to a delegation of senators at the Prime Minister’s House on Friday, Gilani said that the government had been making concerted efforts to bring an economic turnaround in the near future.
He said that despite the economic challenges, which resulted from the devastating floods, terrorism and global recession, the government was striving to spare funds for development of the backward regions by cutting down its non-developmental expenditures. Gilani declared that a high-level meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor and public representatives of the Tribal Areas would be convened in the coming weeks to chalk out a plan for development of the FATA region, which was badly affected by terrorism.
The parliamentarians appreciated the PM’s humility for welfare of the poor segments of society and also lauded his announcement for opening universities in remote areas of the country.
Minister of State for Postal Services Abdul Raziq, Senator Eng Rashid Ahmed Khan, Senator Haji Khan Afridi and Senator Hafiz Rasheed Ahmed reposed their full confidence in the leadership of the prime minister and assured him of their unwavering support.
During another meeting with Board of Investment (BOI) Chairman Saleem H Mandviwala and Minister of State for Finance Hina Rabbani Khar, the prime minister said that the government was committed to provide all facilities to local and foreign investors.
He said that political consensus on economic plan would strengthen investors’ confidence and pave way for rapid economic growth. He asked the BOI chairman to focus on public-private partnership for optimal utilisation of potential and experience of the private sector.
Meanwhile, the prime minister, on Friday, asked the Commerce Ministry to take steps for greater market access for Pakistani products in new markets abroad. He said that export-led growth would help in employment generation and poverty alleviation.
Talking to a delegation of the Muslim Charity Forum from UK, Gilani said that Islamic charitable organisations, through their noble deeds, could help improve the perception about the Muslims around the world.
He appreciated the contributions of all charitable organisations under the umbrella of the Muslim Charity Forum of UK, during the earthquake of 2005 and the recent devastating floods in Pakistan. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk