Economy now more stable than in 2013: PM

'Not only Pakistan but the whole region would extract benefits from CPEC projects'

LAHORE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that the national economy is getting stable by the day, citing also how Pakistan had become economically stronger and safer than it was in 2013 when the PML--led government came to power.

“During the last three years the PML-N government has put the national economy on the right track,” Nawaz claimed while chairing a high-level meeting at Punjab Governor House on Saturday, according to an official statement.



The meeting was also attended by Punjab Governor Rafique Rajwana, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Power Minister Khawaja Asif, Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir and renowned businessmen and officials.



He said the government introduced reforms to attract more investment, adding that a smooth business system would bring in more investment and will ultimately create more employment opportunities.

“Facilitation in setting up businesses will result in more investment and create opportunities for employment. The government will further facilitate business to create employment opportunities,” he added. “The government would facilitate the investors in consultation with the business community.”

Nawaz said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a gigantic project to usher Pakistan’s prosperity. He said out of $46 billion being invested by China, $35billion would be spent only on power projects which after completion would both help overcome load-shedding and provide low-cost electricity.



“Work on various development projects is going on with swift pace under the CPEC in Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. Gwadar Port and Gwadar airport are also being developed in Balochistan,” he added.

The prime minister said not only the people of Pakistan but the whole region would extract benefits from CPEC projects, which, Nawaz said, he is personally monitoring.

He said the corridor would also lead to the elimination of extremism, poverty and unemployment from the region. He said no other country but China had ever made such a heavy investment in Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, the country’s renowned businessmen reposed their confidence in the steps being taken for promotion of business opportunities in Pakistan. They said the government had introduced the best reforms in various sectors for uplift of the national economy.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2016.