Lack of long-term policies by previous govts holding Pakistan back: PM Imran

Premier praises Punjab CM Usman Buzdar for successfully spearheading Quaid-e-Azam Business Park project

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said Pakistan was only lagging behind competitors in terms of economic development owing to lack of long-term policies formulated under the previous governments.

“During 1960s Pakistan was a leading country in the region but after that we stopped making long-term policies and [past rulers] only focused on winning next elections,” he said while addressing the groundbreaking ceremony of Quaid-e-Azam Business Park Sheikhupura in Lahore on Saturday.

The prime minster also appreciated Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and his team for successfully spearheading the project.

He said Singapore became an economic hub in the region because they made long-term policies and implemented them successfully. “Without industrialisation, no country can become a developed nation… no one could have thought a few decades ago that a country like Singapore would ever have per capita income of $50,000,” he added.

The premier also vowed to make Pakistan a business-friendly country, saying that he, after launching Naya Pakistan Housing Programme, came to know about the country’s red-tapism.

“Our system has become a major hurdle in way of development and we need to get rid of procedural hurdles in order to improve ease of doing business in the country,” said the prime minister.

Prime Minister Imran said his government was facilitating business activities in the country and all impediments in the development of industrial sector were being removed, adding that the process of bringing reforms in all government institutions was underway to harmonise the initiatives taken by the government.

The premier said Chinese companies were taking keen interest in investing in diverse sectors across Pakistan. However, he added, we have to ease entrepreneurship and simplify our procedures.

He expressed the hope that Quid-e-Azam Business Park would emerge as an epicenter of new economic avenues and prospects for the Chinese companies.