RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s economy is expected to register an average growth rate of 5 per cent or more during the current year of the Third Five-Year Plan. This was stated by Mr M.M. Ahmad, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, while talking to the members of the World Bank Mission in a meeting held here this afternoon [Feb 23]. The Planning Commission chief informed the members of the mission that despite the severe drought and other economic problems, Pakistan’s economy had maintained the high growth rate due to sound economic policies. He said that as a result of this growth rate, it was expected that growth of the economy would exceed the Third Plan target of 6-1/2 per cent.

Mr Ahmad explained to the members of the mis­­sion the policies and measures adopted by the Government to accelerate the recovery of the eco­­­nomy from the adverse effects of the Indo-Pakistan conflict and the stoppage of the econo­mic aid last year. He said that the Government had adopted a revised strategy for development which laid more emphasis on the development of agriculture. The industrial policy was reoriented to consolidate the industrial programme and to de­­velop selective industries in the agriculture sec­­tor such as fertiliser, tractors, insecticides and tube-wells. Mr M. M. Ahmad informed the members of the Mission that Pakistan’s exports continued to increase and the growth in this sector during the first two years of the Plan registered a rate of 26 per cent, as against 19 per cent envisaged in the Plan.

[Meanwhile, as reported by agencies in Suk­kur,] The District Magistrate, Sukkur today [Feb 23] assured a deputation of local journalists and Newspaper Agents Association that proper legal action will be taken against Mr Ghulam Ali Agha, District Public Prosecutor, and his brother, Mr Gaz­­zali Agha, for their alleged assault upon Sul­tan Habib Kayani, representative of daily “Nawa-i-Waqt” and proprietor of “Maktabba Jamhoor”.

The District Magistrate assured them that no leniency will be shown to anyone irrespective of rank and position.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2017