Dar wants clearing process for CSF payments fast tracked

Agenda of the forthcoming meeting of the Economic Working Group also discussed.

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar expressed the hope on Saturday that the US would fast track the process of clearing outstanding Coalition Support Fund payments, Radio Pakistan reported.

Talking to US representative Robin Raphel in Islamabad on Saturday, Dar said that addressing energy crisis in the country is top priority of the government.

The two discussed bilateral‚ economic issues and co-operation between the two countries to encourage trade and investment in the region.

During their meeting they also discussed the agenda of the forthcoming meeting of the Economic Working Group expected to be held in Washington in April this year.

Dilating on the need to work more closely in the field of Energy, the finance Minister said that addition of 1700 Mega Watts in the national grid due to clearance of circular debt had increased industrial growth by five per cent against an average of three per cent during the last five years. This underscored the need and significance of emphasising more on the Energy sector as it would further accelerate growth in the economy.