ISLAMABAD, Jan 18: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali here on Saturday assured the visiting IMF mission that there would be continuity of reforms to achieve greater macroeconomic stability.
The four-member IMF team, led by George T. Abed, which called on the prime minister was informed that after three years of hard work, Pakistan’s economic situation had improved.
The visit of the IMF mission, an official statement said, was meant to establish contacts with the new leadership in the country.
Mr Jamali said that the various economic achievements were made by implementing sound economic policies, and through good economic management and good governance.
He said that wide-ranging structural reforms had started paying dividends, and that his government believed in the continuity of reforms. “We will make efforts to create employment opportunities through promoting higher investment and growth,” he said.
Mr Jamali informed the mission that the Pakistan government aimed at achieving 6 per cent GDP growth over the next two to three years period.
Reducing poverty, improving social indicators, good governance and keeping inflation low would be the cornerstone of his government’s economic policies, he said explained and added that reducing the country’s debt burden would also be the key element of his government’s macro economic policies.
The prime minister underscored the need for a better law and order situation, continuation of consistent and transparent economic policies, and completion of the ongoing structural reforms. He said Pakistanis were fast becoming a fiscally responsible nation.
Mr Abed appreciated the economic reform programme of Pakistan and said that last three years had witnessed macroeconomic stability in a very difficult regional and international environment. “Economic indicators look impressive,” he said, adding that he was pleased to know that Pakistan had achieved macroeconomic stability without neglecting structural reforms.
He assured the prime minister of the IMF continued support for further strengthening Pakistan’s economy.