‘Economic revival is top priority’
Finance minister says govt will secure loan from the IMF on its own terms.
“We want to increase our gross domestic product (GDP) and reduce fiscal deficits to control inflation in the country,” says federal finance minister Ishaq Dar. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
The government puts revival of the economy, prosperity and stability as its top priority, according to the Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, while talking to a private television channel.
“We want to increase our gross domestic product (GDP) and reduce fiscal deficits to control inflation in the country,” the minister said. The government will initiate an effective price control mechanism to control inflation and provide food items at affordable prices to the people.
Ishaq Dar said economic stability was necessary to save the sovereignty and raise the country’s dignity in the international community.
Talking on the security situation, he said that law and order was necessary to attract foreign investment and ensure economic stability in the country.
A solution to the energy crisis and exterminating extremism were one of the top priorities of the government in order to restore the economic activities and revive the national economy.
According to the finance minister, the government had initiated sound economic and trade policies to create new employment opportunities for the people and eradicate poverty.
Replying to a question, he said that no immediate policy had been under consideration to give the most favoured nation (MFN) status to India. Dar went on to say that maintaining security and reviving economy were considered to be the biggest challenges for Pakistan, and the government wanted to resolve these challenges in consensus with all the political parties of the country.
He said that the government would soon stabilise the value of the local currency against the US dollar and blamed the depreciation of the rupee on smuggling of gold.
Replying to a question, he said that the government had cleared the circular debt of Rs503 billion to independent power producers (IPP), which had restored the confidence of investors in the government’s economic policies.
Replying to a question, he said that the government had initiated policies and structural reforms to broaden the tax regime and was trying to bring tax evaders under the tax net for the prosperity of the country.
The government had successfully reached a loan agreement with the International Monitory Fund (IMF) on Pakistan’s own terms and denied that the loan agreement was reached on the dictation of the Fund.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2013.
The government puts revival of the economy, prosperity and stability as its top priority, according to the Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, while talking to a private television channel.
“We want to increase our gross domestic product (GDP) and reduce fiscal deficits to control inflation in the country,” the minister said. The government will initiate an effective price control mechanism to control inflation and provide food items at affordable prices to the people.
Ishaq Dar said economic stability was necessary to save the sovereignty and raise the country’s dignity in the international community.
Talking on the security situation, he said that law and order was necessary to attract foreign investment and ensure economic stability in the country.
A solution to the energy crisis and exterminating extremism were one of the top priorities of the government in order to restore the economic activities and revive the national economy.
According to the finance minister, the government had initiated sound economic and trade policies to create new employment opportunities for the people and eradicate poverty.
Replying to a question, he said that no immediate policy had been under consideration to give the most favoured nation (MFN) status to India. Dar went on to say that maintaining security and reviving economy were considered to be the biggest challenges for Pakistan, and the government wanted to resolve these challenges in consensus with all the political parties of the country.
He said that the government would soon stabilise the value of the local currency against the US dollar and blamed the depreciation of the rupee on smuggling of gold.
Replying to a question, he said that the government had cleared the circular debt of Rs503 billion to independent power producers (IPP), which had restored the confidence of investors in the government’s economic policies.
Replying to a question, he said that the government had initiated policies and structural reforms to broaden the tax regime and was trying to bring tax evaders under the tax net for the prosperity of the country.
The government had successfully reached a loan agreement with the International Monitory Fund (IMF) on Pakistan’s own terms and denied that the loan agreement was reached on the dictation of the Fund.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2013.