PM directs export tariff rationalisation

Shehbaz advocates national program to combat child stunting

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed the authorities concerned to immediately prepare a strategy regarding tariff rationalisation for export sector industries.

Chairing a meeting to discuss the provision of facilities to the industrial sector, the prime minister emphasised the importance of industrial development and export growth.

He said the government will ensure the supply of electricity and gas to industries at affordable rates. The prime minister also directed the relevant authorities to prioritise addressing the issues facing the industrial sector.

He said that it was the priority of the government to provide facilities to the industries in the export sector.

The prime minister said that all possible efforts and measures would be taken to promote the industries and tap the true potential of the productive capacity of the country. The prime minister directed that the industries should be consulted for tariff rationalization of electricity and gas.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister for Power Awais Ahmed Leghari, Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik, Minister of State Ali Pervaiz Malik, Deputy Chairman Jehanzeb Khan, Coordinator to PM Rana Ehsaan Afzal and other high officials.

Stunting

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed to launch a nationwide programme in collaboration with the provincial governments to tackle the issue of child stunting in the country.

Chairing a high-level meeting here to discuss the critical issue of child stunting in the country, the prime minister also directed the concerned authorities to prepare a comprehensive plan to combat the chronic disease, population control and other health issues.

He said provision of the best nutrition to the children was important for a bright future of the country. “The government will take special measures on priority for the best growth of the children.”

In the meeting, the World Bank presented a comprehensive report on the data regarding growth of the children in Pakistan.

Highlighting the root causes of child stunting, it was informed in the meeting that inadequate healthcare facilities, lack of essential nutrients, contaminated water, poor hygiene and lack of awareness about the disease were the main reasons of child stunting.

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Furthermore, data about other diseases such as Tuberculosis, Hepatitis, Diabetes in Pakistan was also presented in the meeting.

The prime minister stressed the need for a coordinated effort between the federal and provincial governments to address this critical issue.

The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal and Ahad Khan Cheema, Coordinator to the Prime Minister Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bhurt, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Jehanzeb Khan, and other senior government officials, as well as international experts from the World Bank, UNICEF, and other organizations.

World Bank Country Director Naje Benhasain, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan Abdullah Fazil, World Food Program Representative in Pakistan and other world-renowned experts, Chief Secretaries of the four provinces, Dr. Zavalafiqar Ali Bhutta, Dr Sajid Sufi, Dr. Ijaz Nabi and world-renowned experts from related fields also attended the meeting.

Beverages companies

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that business-friendly policies pursued by the government were coming to fruition.

The prime minister, talking to a delegation of international beverages companies which called on him, said that the government was extending its maximum support to the foreign investors and business community to make them create employment opportunities, boost exports and contribute to the national economic development.

The delegation members appreciated the prime minister for his government’s pro-business policies.
They told the prime minister that 25 plants of international beverages firms were operating in Pakistan and had employed around 130,000 workers.

Apprising the prime minister of the largest recycling system, the delegation told the prime minister that the beverages firms were contributing to the national exchequer through huge amount of taxes.

Prime Minister Shehbaz urged the companies to play their productive role under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

He also instructed the relevant authorities to hold consultations on the companies’ proposals and resolve their issues at the earliest.

The delegation was led by Vice President of Coca Cola for Pakistan and Afghanistan Volkan Onguc and CEO of Pepsi Co Pakistan and Afghanistan Muhammad Khosa.

Federal ministers Jam Kamal Khan, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Abdul Aleem Khan and relevant senior officers attended the meeting.