We will have to take such decisions which change destiny of the country, says PM

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that they will have to rise above personal interests and take such decisions which change destiny of the country.

Addressing the inaugural session of Turn Around Pakistan Conference being hosted by Ministry of Planning and Development in Islamabad, he has expressed the resolve to take the country towards economic stability in the next fourteen months. “Pakistan will receive two billion dollars from the International Monetary Fund but our ultimate goal is to achieve self-reliance as it only guarantees to independently take political and economic decisions.”

The Prime Minister said that the country is faced with serious challenges but it is our utmost effort to collectively steer the country out of them. “Majority of the affluent class has accepted the super tax which will help generate two hundred and thirty billion rupees. This money will not be spent on current expenditures but will be used for economic development. Development schemes in this regard will soon be made public.”

Regretting delay in completion of various projects as well as the failure of previous government to sign on spot or long term agreement for purchase of LNG, he said that they are now importing coal from Afghanistan to address the issue of power outages. “This transaction will be in Pakistani rupee. This will help country save two billion dollars. This coal is suitable for the power projects installed under the CPEC.”

The Prime Minister also asked participants of the conference to give suggestions for uplifting agriculture and agro based industries and bolstering of exports besides that do away with obstacles in the way of businesses and investment.

Speaking on the occasion, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said that Pakistan no longer faces the threat of default. “We aim to reduce the primary deficit from 1600 billion rupees to 125 billion rupees surplus during the current fiscal year.”

“Every Pakistani should become a tax payer to put the country's economy on right track. Government will not hesitate taking difficult decisions that could strengthen country's economy,” he added.

In his remarks, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said that Pakistan can achieve self-reliance by pursuing the path of bringing structural reforms and bolstering exports by strengthen the industrial and agriculture sectors. “A program is being launched to uplift twenty poorest districts of the country in the next five year in order to reduce the gap of development between different areas.”

“We will have to bring the country out of polarization and anarchy besides unleash the potential of our entrepreneurs to put the country in the right direction,” he concluded.