Exports must for economic turnaround: PM Imran

Asks his financial team to resolve issues of exporters on priority

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said increase in the country’s exports is vital for economic turnaround and it is his government’s top priority to facilitate exporters and address their issues.

“Some businessmen have complained about the difficulties they face in using the new system and the government would take immediate steps to resolve these issues,” PM Imran said on Tuesday while chairing a meeting of his economic team.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Communications Murad Saeed, Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar, Minister for Food Security Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister for Privatization Mian Muhammad Soomro, Minister for Planning Asad Umar, Minister for Energy Omar Ayub, Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razzak Dawood, Adviser on Finance Hafeez Shaikh, Adviser on Institutional Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain, Special Assistant Nadeem Babar, Board of Investment Chairman Zubair Gilani, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Reza Baqir, Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Shabbar Zaidi and other senior officials.

The meeting reviewed issues like refunds to exporters, growth in development sector particularly progress in the project for construction of 5 million houses for people of low income groups and ‘Food-Bank’ programme.

Adviser on Finance Hafeez Shaikh and the FBR chairman briefed the meeting in detail on the measure taken for payment of refunds to exporters.

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The PM in his address laid stress on ensuring paying refunds to exporters so that the business community does not face undue difficulties. He said every possible convenience should be provided to the business community in order to introduce to them the new system.

Naya Pakistan Housing Authority Chairman Lieutenant General (Retd) Anwar Ali Hyder briefed the meeting about situation of the construction sector, especially progress with regard to the housing project for low income people.

He said the first project of 15,000 units would be started very soon and construction of houses would be started in at least three provinces of the country by the end of December. Shaukat Tareen briefed the meeting on the ‘Food Bank’ programme launched with the help of NGO Akhuwat.

Under this programme, extra food will be collected from different houses, hotels and marriage halls and will be provided at the doorsteps of deserving people. This project is going to be launched initially in Lahore with the help of 100 restaurants initially.

The food gathered from these eateries will be provided to the enrolled houses where widows and elderly people reside and to slums and other places like bus terminals and hospitals etc.

The meeting was told that in first three months, this meal will be provided to up to 20,000 people but more and more people will be provided free food with passage of time.

The PM said this programme conforms to the government’s vision of welfare. “The government will cooperate in providing the required resources and the monthly expenses,” he said.