Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar emphasized that Pakistan’smilitary is not “exceeding its boundaries in any way,” firmly rejecting theidea that his government is under any form of control.
“The military is providing us with all the requested support,” thecaretaker PM asserted. “Their involvement is not even remotely excessive. Ido not perceive any situation where my government is being dictated to.”
He further stated, “Yes, we are collaborating in several areas, includingsecurity and certain economic initiatives. This collaboration is based onmutual willingness.”
These comments were made by the caretaker PM during discussions withforeign media representatives in Islamabad. Kakar clarified that thecurrent administration, which assumed power after the dissolution of theNational Assembly by Shehbaz Sharif last month, is focused on facilitatingthe electoral process. “We are not here to overhaul the government. Ourrole is strictly within the confines of the constitutional mandate. Forexample, we have a budget approved by the parliament, and we do not havethe authority to modify it.”
“However,” he added, “within the budget allocations, we are making effortsto prioritize and reorganize within fiscal and monetary policy.”
He emphasized that Pakistan’s economic recovery hinges on the SpecialInvestment Facilitation Council (SIFC) initiative. “We aim to provide afoundation for any future government that may take over in a few months.”
“Simultaneously, significant structural reforms are essential to addresseconomic challenges, including reforms in land revenue and the powersector,” he noted. “We are laying the groundwork for mid-level reforms,which future governments will be responsible for implementing.”
Regarding privatization, Kakar revealed that two Distribution Companies(DISCOs) in the power sector are being considered for privatization. “Wemay achieve one or two goals within the next six months.”
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“We are also hopeful of attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in theminerals and mining sector, which would boost market sentiment,” the PMadded.
He confirmed ongoing discussions regarding contracts with IndependentPower Plants (IPPs). “We are actively working towards resolving issuesrelated to these contracts. It’s an ongoing process.” Kakar also confirmedreports of $25 billion in investments from the UAE and Saudi Arabia. “I canconfirm that this investment will be spread over a period of two to fiveyears and will cover various sectors, particularly mining, agriculture, andIT.”
He expressed Pakistan’s commitment to a positive trajectory in itsrelations with China under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) andstressed full cooperation with China.
On the Reko Diq project, the caretaker PM indicated that it would commenceoperations by the end of December. “Once initiated, the project isestimated to be worth around $600-700 billion. We have partners with thefinancial capacity to invest and develop it into a viable economic model.”
Regarding Pakistan-Russia ties, Kakar highlighted Russia’s significance inthe region and expressed the government’s desire for constructive relationswith Russia. He also mentioned that there are no policy obstacles toimporting Russian oil.
