ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan says achieving economic stability and creating job opportunities for youth and skilled persons is among top priorities of the government.
Chairing a meeting of government’s economic team in Islamabad on Monday, he said government is giving full attention on providing relief to the common man. He said ensuring unhindered progress on development projects will not only accelerate the economic process, but it will also result in more job opportunities for youth.
The Prime Minister directed to give special attention on improving the coordination between ministries and departments, while promoting out of box thinking and suggestions.
Chairman FBR gave a detailed briefing to the Prime Minister on measures taken regarding payment of refunds to exporters.
The Prime Minister directed the FBR to further simplify the system of refunds payments so that small and medium exporters do not face any difficulty in receiving the refunds. The Prime Minister said the country has achieved economic stability due to government steps and trust of business community has increased.
He said all out facilities should be provided to small and medium traders and exporters in order to encourage them and to promote the positive sentiments and trust.
Special Assistant on Petroleum Nadeem Babar apprised the meeting on TAPI gas pipeline progress.
The meeting was apprised that export figures of Jul-Nov indicate increase in export volume and its income in terms of dollars. The exports registered an increase of six percent in October this year in comparison with same period last year. The November also saw an increase of 9.6 percent. The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction on this positive trend.
The Prime Minister was informed that 551 cases out of 1089 relating to FBR in the superior judiciary have been decided while 285 are under trial. The Prime Minister directed the Attorney General that efforts should be expedited to resolve the cases in courts on fast track basis.
He directed to provide all necessary resources to Attorney General’s Office to put the government’s viewpoint before the court in FBR related cases. The Prime Minister said early resolution of the cases will help resolve the problems of business community.
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar, Minister of National Food Security and Research Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar, Federal Minister for Energy Omar Ayub, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Advisor Dr Ishrat Hussain, Attorney General for Pakistan Anwar Mansoor Khan and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting, Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan.
Meanwhile, Executive Chairman Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Naguib Sawiris called on Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad on Monday.
Adviser Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Adviser Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari, Governor SBP Syed Raza Baqir, Chairman Board of Investment Syed Zubair Gillani, Chairman NPHDA Lt. Gen (Retd) Anwar Ali Haider were also present during the meeting.
During the meeting, matters pertaining to investment in Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme and tourism sector came under discussion.
Earlier, in his tweet Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari said: “So happy to have you here buddy @NaguibSawiris. Pakistan is your second home and we’re honoured to have you play a big part in making of a Naya Pakistan.”
Meanwhile, presiding over a meeting in Islamabad where his Adviser on Institutional Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain briefed him on Food Bank programme, Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday said that to stabilise the national economy and create employment opportunities for youth is the government’s foremost priority.
He was presiding over a meeting in Islamabad where his Adviser on Institutional Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain briefed him on Food Bank programme.
Prime Minister Khan lauded the programme aimed at providing food to deserving people at their doorstep and vowed to extend every possible support to make the initiative successful. He called for “out-of-the-box” proposals for the purpose.
He reiterated the incumbent government is fixated on providing relief to the common man, adding progress on uplift schemes will expedite financial activities in the country and help create employment opportunities for youth. – NNI