Pakistan records economic revival, on the path to development

Information Minister Shibli Faraz has said the economy stands revived and the country has been put on the path of development. Flanked by other cabinet members, he was addressing a news conference about the government’s two years’ performance in Islamabad on Wednesday.

The Information Minister said the nation which faced the difficult period steadfastly stands by the government and all the conspiracies will be foiled through their support. He expressed confidence that the fruits of development will reach the masses soon.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Communications Murad Saeed said Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision of austerity, accountability, transparency and self-sustainability is being implemented in the projects in letter and spirit. He said Rs750 million were saved under the austerity drive and over Rs12 billion were recovered through audit under accountability campaign.

The Minister said initiatives of introduction of e-billing, e-bidding and procurement, were introduced in the National Highway Authority to ensure transparency. He said revenue of National Highway Authority has increased from Rs53 billion to Rs103 billion.

Murad Saeed said eight new projects of roads will be launched under public private partnership this year. The Minister said several steps have also been taken to improve functioning of postal services.

Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhary said their effort has remained to transform Pakistan into a manufacturing economy by promoting the logo of ‘Made in Pakistan.

He said Pakistan has become one of the major exporters of Personal Protective Equipment in a matter of six months. He said currently Pakistan is producing 250 ventilators every month and this capacity will be enhanced to seven hundred in order to enable Pakistan become one of the few countries exporting this sophisticated machine.

The Minister for Science and Technology said his ministry has also set targets for the current year. He said this included development of agricultural farms on modern lines. He said our plan is to establish five hundred technology farms and promote non-conventional crops to enhance the agricultural exports.

The Minister said our target is to establish a special economic zone for electromagnetic industry in Sialkot. He said Pakistan will start producing more sophisticated machines such as the one used in dialysis this year. He said our target is also to enhance our exports of surgical items to two billion dollars in one year time.

Fawad Chaudhary said we have also envisaged a project to ensure domestic production of agriculture machinery. He said we also plan to bolster production of different kinds of chemicals in the country to save the foreign exchange currently being spent on their import.

Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination Fahmida Mirza says that after the 18th Amendment in 1973 Constitution, Council for Common Interest under the “Cooperative Federation” slogan is the main forum to strengthening the federation.

She said her ministry is fully determined for the provision of all basic facilities and conducive environment to the athletes of the country and anti-doping board is being constituted for the awareness among the players. She said that we are also making sincere efforts for the provision of sports facilities in prisons, religious seminaries and other institutions across the country.

News Network International