ISLAMABAD, June 21: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Tuesday his administration would ensure fiscal discipline and transparency by following principles of good governance.

“Benefits of economic development would definitely reach the common man through sustained pace of economic development,” the prime minister said while talking to members of his economic and financial team who had called on him at the PM secretariat.

The prime minister praised the efforts of the team for presenting a balanced and growth-oriented budget and discussed different methodologies to implement budgetary proposals in true spirit.

There would be more focus on growth to help create job opportunities, the prime minister said, adding that appropriate steps would be taken to bring down inflation to provide relief to the common man.

The team informed the prime minister that flour and sugar were available at utility stores at Rs11.50 and Rs23 per kg respectively in compliance with his directives.

Those who called on the prime minister were Salman Shah, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance; Omar Ayub Khan, Minister of State for Finance; Ms Hina Rabbani Khan, Minister of State for Economic Affairs Division; and Khawaja Sheraz Mehmood, Parliamentary Secretary for Finance.

Mr Aziz also received Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan and discussed with him the recent visit of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leaders and AJK budget and development projects.

The prime minister complimented the AJK prime minister for arrangements made for APHC leaders’ visit which had achieved positive results.

The people of Pakistan, he said, always desired that the Kashmir issue be resolved in accordance with the aspirations and wishes of its people.