Five-year economic plan soon: PM
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that he would unveil a five-year economic revival plan in the coming weeks as broad parameters had already been finalised through months-long deliberations with the stakeholders.
The PM, addressing the launching ceremony of Buna-Raast connectivity project, said the "Home-Grown Economic Program" would envisage measures to boost the country's economy by uplifting agriculture, information technology and other untapped sectors.
"Our program is under discussion and I will announce it very soon. Great work has gone into it. It involves discussions and deliberations with all stakeholders over the last many months. Recently we have finalised its broad parameters. By next week or so, we will finalise it. I will go to the people to announce the program for the next five years," the prime minister remarked.
Highlighting the challenges of reforms in the Federal Board of Revenue and power sector, he told the gathering that he was personally monitoring the digitisation of FBR and that the government was hopeful of positive outcomes of power sector reforms.
"There is no magic band. It is all about hard work, sacrifice, blood and sweat. Our nation is robust and strong. Our people are full of hope and energy. Let us put our work together. Let us not waste time on debates as we had done in the past. Let us now use this time for actual implementation on the ground. Insha Allah, you will see we will have dividends and will find our place in the comity of nations through hard work, hard work and hard work," he said.
Under the Buna-Raast connectivity project, the Raast payment mechanism is being linked with the Arab Monetary Fund's Buna system to facilitate millions of overseas Pakistanis in Arab countries to send remittances through a swift, affordable and effective mechanism.
He thanked the Arab Monetary Fund, State Bank of Pakistan, Finance Ministry, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Karandaaz for their support in launching the project.
Earlier, he also gave away the mementos to Chairperson of Arab Monetary Fund Dr Fahad Alturki, SBP Governor Jamil Ahmed, President of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Dr Anita Zaidi, and CEO of Karandaaz Waqasul Hassan.
Chairperson Arab Monetary Fund Dr Fahad M Alturki Thursday called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and discussed matters relating to mutual concerns.
"The digitization of E-Commerce sector and the economy is top priority of the government," he said adding that a large number of Pakistanis were residing in the Gulf countries who send a big portion of foreign remittances to Pakistan.
Airport services
Shehbaz instructed that facilities for passengers, tourists, and overseas Pakistanis at the country's airports be improved and called for an increase in the number of counters during international flights to reduce long wait times for passengers.
Chairing a review meeting on aviation sector reforms, the prime minister directed that the safety audit for the current calendar year be completed as soon as possible.
The meeting was briefed in detail about the reforms in the aviation sector. The meeting was informed that the separation of the Airport Management Authority and Civil Aviation under the Act was ensuring more efficient execution of the operator and regulator duties.