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Govt now focusing on promotion of economic growth, PM Khan tells business leaders
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said that after overcoming the "most difficult challenge" of stabilising the economy during the first six months of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)-led government, the focus is now on the promotion of economic growth in the country.
In a meeting with a delegation of business community leaders and representatives, the premier said that with trade and investment being an important pillar of the government's foreign policy, there was a positive sentiment among the international community towards Pakistan's economy, which needed to be capitalised.
Finance Minister Asad Umar, Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Adviser to the PM on Institutional Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain and Board of Investment (BOI) Chairman Haroon Sharif were also present at the meeting.
The prime minister said the government is also working on a comprehensive plan to encourage non-tax payers and informal sectors to join the documented economy. In this regard, he invited the business community to give their input and recommendations.
The delegation included: Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) President Shazia Syed, Pakistan Business Council Chairman Syed Yawar Ali, Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) Managing Director Richard Morin, PSX Chairman Suleman Mehdi, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Junaid Ismail Makda, Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Almas Haider, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) Chairman Syed Ali Ahsan, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry President Daroo Khan Achakzai, Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Khawaja Masood Akhtar and a representative of the Pakistan Bank Association.
The business community leaders expressed confidence in the policies of the government and the steps being taken to reduce the cost of doing business as well as improving the ease of doing business in the country.
The OICCI president also briefed the prime minister about plans to hold an international investment conference which would highlight Pakistan's economic potential in front of the global community.
Comments (13) Closed
Hindustan is still licking its wounds after its humiliation, but Kaptaan has already turned his attention back to developing Pakistan. This is what a leader looks like.
Start with tax reforms and adding millions in tax roll. Ease of doing business, learn from Rwanda. Don't go for improving by 10 or 15 position. Go after first 20 and implement everything that is needed to achieve it. Get rid of existing bureaucrats to achieve that.
Time for another speech If only speeches could control inflation
An honest leadership.
"Imran Khan says the positive sentiment among the international community towards the economy needs to be capitalized on." Not to throw cold water on the PM, but that positive sentiment is relative. Institutional investors are not at present lining up to invest in Pakistan's equities market.
Absolute number one agenda item is economic growth that is cure for so many ills. A decade long aggressive plan that must be impelmented day in, day out with perseverance, and without our usual political nonsense that dilutes and diverts our focus.
Focusing the economy with this failed team
@Tahir Raouf, Nawaz and Zardari are the failed team. Not sure of your logic; or perhaps you are from the other side of the border.
It is good to focus but take a look 6 month how your team failed. we can grow only if Electric and Gas supply is available and price is low
I think he should only concentrate on giving speeches that’s his only chance to staying in power coz with the way economy is going and his failed team only his speeches might save him
The economy is going down day by day!
Last 30!years Pakistan keep trying to attract foreign investors and failed miserably because it is missing the local businesses and talent completely. No country ever get success without its local businesses. Foreign investors take the capital out of country which makes the country even poorer. Spend your money, and effort on local businesses. And give all contracts to locals, give them chance. Americans, Malaysian and Chinese all did that. Businesses bring businesses not government.
If the economy is “stabilized”, why is IMF program still being pursued?