LAHORE: Rana Mohammad Hanif, the Federal Minister for Finance, Planning and Development, said here today [Oct 28] that strict fiscal and monetary measures taken by the Government have contributed a great deal in putting the national economy on a sound keel. In an interview [with news agencies] … he said necessary measures continue to be taken at different levels to make the economy behave well in future also. He said as a result of the sustained efforts made by the Government, there had been a marked improvement in revenues of the country in financial year 1975-76 as compared to 1974-75. The realisation of Income Tax alone had been 67 per cent more in that year than the target fixed in the Budget, he added.

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from Dacca,] Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, former President of the pro-Moscow National Party, yesterday [Oct 27] announced his retirement from active politics. He is 97. Mr. Bhashani, a Muslim populist who resigned as President of the outlawed Awami Party two years ago, said in a statement that he planned to lead a non-political group called “Khudai Khidmatgar” (Servant of Allah). He would make a pilgrimage to Mecca next month… .

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2026