ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Imran Khan has emphasized that stability ofeconomy and facilitating the business community is top priority of thegovernment.
He was chairing a meeting of government’s economic team in Islamabad onSaturday.
The Prime Minister directed various ministries to devise a clear mechanismbased on timeline to achieve quarterly targets and accomplishments.
He also called for presenting out of the box solutions and proposals toimprove the economy and to make consultations with all stakeholders inorder to start implementing the workable suggestions.
Imran Khan said the baseless propaganda against the economy should berebutted with complete facts so that people have the clear picture of pastsituation and current improvement.
Referring to importance of agriculture in the national economy and thesteps taken by the government to revolutionize the sector, the PrimeMinister said government has constituted a detailed policy for thepromotion of all areas of agriculture.
He said need of the hour is to apprise the people of this policy and allthe related steps for their benefit.
Imran Khan said promotion of small and medium enterprises is among thepriorities of the government.
He said special attention should be paid on revival of plants and sickunits that were closed due to mismanagement and financial problems of thepast. He called for a vibrant role of CIRC and improving the coordinationbetween all stakeholders including National Bank, State Bank and otherinstitutions to devise a course of action for the revival of sick units.
Referring to steps taken by the government for promotion of constructionsector, the Prime Minister said the proposal to declare construction sectoran industry and the imposition of fixed tax on construction activities inthe large cities is being finalized in order to remove obstacles in thisregard.
Imran Khan directed the Chairman Naya Pakistan Housing Authority to alsoconsider a proposal for a financial incentives package to promote theconstruction of apartments and encouraging investment in this area.
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The government team gave a comprehensive briefing to the Prime Minister onsteps taken for improvement and stability of economy and their impacts.
The meeting was informed that positive results have been witnessed as aresult of measures taken by the government. These include increase inexports, 38 percent decrease in trade deficit in first two months ofcurrent fiscal year, improved tax collection, increased tax net andacceleration in private business activities.
Chairman FBR apprised the Prime Minister that tax collection hassignificantly been improved in recent months. The Prime Ministerappreciated the performance of Chairman FBR.
Minister for Planning and Development briefed the meeting on progressrelating to implementation of China Pakistan Economic Corridor project.
The Prime Minister while expressing satisfaction on implementation of CPECsaid this project is not only a reflection of Pak-China friendship but itwill have positive impacts on national and regional economy.
Governor State Bank of Pakistan while giving a briefing to the meeting saidduring meetings with exporters, they have not only expressed fullconfidence on government policies but also presented various proposals forexport related industry which are being considered.
Finance Secretary apprised the meeting that Special Secretary Finance OmarHamid Khan has been assigned the responsibility of spokesperson forimportant ministries relating to economy and a media cell has been set upat Ministry of Finance for this purpose.
The Prime Minister directed to play a vibrant role for dissemination ofinformation about economy so that people are protected against wronginformation spread by misleading elements.
