Federal ministers reveals two-year performance report of government

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - After completion of PTI's two year governance, The federal government on Monday unveiled its two-year performance report highlighting its successes on the internal and external fronts. Cabinet members including Information Minister Shibli Faraz, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Adviser on Finance Hafeez Sheikh, Minister for Industries Hammad Azhar and Special Assistant on Poverty Alleviation Sania Nishtar presented the two year performance of the government at a news conference in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Information Minister Shibli Faraz

In his remarks, the information minister said that the governments are answerable before the masses in a democratic set-up. "Our aim is to transform Pakistan into a welfare state," he added. He said it is the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan to serve the masses especially those belonging to downtrodden segments of the society. He said the people have rejected the politics of vested interests. He said our enemy wants to destabilize our economy and create anarchy in the country. He said his ministry will fully confront this challenge as a united nation without any division. Shibli Faraz said the first two years were difficult but now the good days have started.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi

Sharing the achievements on the external front, FM Qureshi said it was because of our effective policy of the last two years that the Kashmir dispute stands internationalized today.

India wants to isolate Pakistan

He said the UN Security Council held discussions on the outstanding dispute for the third time in a year. He pointed out that Prime Minister Imran Khan in his address to the UN General Assembly and other international forums forcefully raised the dispute. He said India wanted to isolate Pakistan at the regional and international levels but we foiled their plots.

Intra Afghan Dialogue

The minister said that intra afghan dialogue is about to commence and Pakistan has played its part in it. He said there has been a narrative shift regarding Pakistan over the last two years. He said Pakistan is no longer considered part of problem but part of solution. He said Pakistan is now being viewed as a partner in peace.

Economic Diplomacy

Shah Mehmood Qureshi said we gave the concept of economic diplomacy to enhance our economic footprint. "During this period, we have also revitalized our relations with our longstanding friends," he added. He said our relationship with China is transforming into a strong economic partnership. He said the second phase of CPEC involves industrialization in Pakistan. Enhancing agriculture productivity, poverty alleviation and human resource development are other important components of the second phase of the corridor project.

Plan with European Union

He said Pakistan has also signed strategic engagement plan with the European Union and as part of economic diplomacy also we also engaged with the Africa. He said the Prime Minister's global debt relief initiative for the developing countries was acknowledged by the world.

Adviser on Finance Hafeez Shaikh

Highlighting the problems inherited by present government on the economic front and the steps taken to overcome them, Hafeez Shaikh said that it is our historic performance that the current account deficit was brought down from twenty billion dollars to three billion dollars. He said government returned loans of five thousand billion rupees.

Curtailed its expenditures

The adviser also mentioned that the government also curtailed its expenditures. The budgets of President House and the Prime Minister House were reduced whilst that of the armed forces were frozen. He said no borrowing was made from State Bank of Pakistan during the last fiscal year. "No supplementary grants were given during this period," he added.

Mega package

"We gave a mega package of 1240 billion rupees to cope with the situation arising out of Covid-19," the adviser maintained. He said the biggest portion of the package went to the disadvantaged segments of the society and the people rendered jobless by the breakout of Coronavirus. He said a payment of 250 billion rupees was made to them in the most transparent manner.

Economic Performance

Hafeez Shaikh said our economic performance is now being hailed by international organizations including IMF, Moody's and Fitch. He said Pakistan Stock Market has been recognized as the best performing market by Bloomberg.

Tax

He said no new tax was imposed in the current year budget whilst taxes on import of raw materials were either totally abolished or reduced significantly. The adviser said the government's economic policy has started bearing fruit. He said the exports witnessed growth of six percent in the month of July including that of cement by sixty-six percent. He said the domestic sale of cement increased by thirty three percent. Similarly, there has been increase in the sale of fertilizers and vehicles. Hafeez Sheikh said the month of July received the record remittances of 2.8 billion dollars. He said the FBR collection remained 300 billion rupees in the first month of current fiscal year. The adviser said the country is being taken forward through a combined effort. He said the people of Pakistan are the priority of Prime Minister Imran Khan. He said the economic gains will be further consolidated in the days ahead.

Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar

Hammad Azhar regardless of breakout of Covid-19, all the supply chains were remained open to ensure availability of essential commodities to the people. He said timely decisions were taken by the present government for gradual reopening of industries.

Construction Industry

The minister said the government has given an incentive package to the construction industry. As a result of this, there is an upsurge in the construction sector. He said this activity will further increase after the monsoon season.

Two New Policies

Hammad Azhar said two new policies were given by the government including that of electric vehicle policy and mobile manufacturing policy.  He said the manufacturing of two and three wheelers electric vehicles will start this year while Pakistan is also to begin export of smart phones.

Plan of FATF

The minister said difficult decisions have also been taken vis-a-vis state enterprises including Pakistan Steel Mills. He said Pakistan has also made significant progress to meet the action plan of FATF.

Minister for Planning Asad Umar

Asad Umar said Pakistan is being ranked amongst the few countries which has successfully confronted Covid-19. He said the situation in Pakistan is far better when compared with other countries in the region. He attributed this success to the decisions taken in a timely manner with consensus. He said the government proved it has the competence and the will to address the challenges.

Special Assistant on Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar

Dr Sania Nishtar gave a detailed briefing on Ehsaas program and its different components. She said the Ehsaas program was established is the country's biggest ever social safety net.

Ehsaas Program

She said the Ehsaas program will be further expanded and its access to the masses will be ensured. Special Assistant on Poverty Alleviation said that a program is being launched in the next fifteen days in all districts of Pakistan under which the children of deserving families will be given scholarships.