ISLAMABAD – Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives(PDSI) Asad Umar on Tuesday said the prices of gas and electricity in thecountry would come down shortly.
“The Prime Minister has chaired several meetings to bring down the pricesof gas and electricity, and in future the prices are likely to come down asa result of the Prime Minister’s personal efforts,” he said adding thiswould also help reducing the input cost for our industries.
Addressing a round-table discussion on “The role of Planning andDevelopment in Pakistan’s Economy” here at the Institute of StrategicStudies Islamabad (ISSI), he said the government was also working onestablishing and making Council of Common Interests’ secretariat effectiveand operational to smoothly resolve differences.
He said the ministry of PDSI had a pivotal role in the economic developmentand uplift of national economy.
“The government is committed to bringing about institutional and structuralreforms. Government is developing a three years growth strategy as well asworking on the establishment of the Secretariat of Council of CommonInterests (CCI) and making it operational.”
Asad Umar said that despite structural changes in Pakistan’s economy, therole of government in general and ministry of PDSI in particular remainsrelevant.
While highlighting the importance of a planned economy, Asad Umar said thatduring 1960s, despite having immense oil resources gulf countries werewallowing in poverty, it was only after the leading role played by the GulfGovernments, that their economic situation improved.
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China’s growth and economic success is another case in point for theplanned economy.
During the decade of 1950s and 1960s, he said Pakistan’s economy wasdeveloping due to its planned nature, although much has changed since then,the need for a planned economy with due input from the private sector staysprimate.
Answering a question about the effect of 18th amendment on Pakistan’seconomy, Asad Umar said that 18th Amendment was absolutely essential for apolity like Pakistan, and has not had any negative impacts for thecountry’s economy.
Director General ISSI Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry and eminent guestsfrom academia and government were also present.
