ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal on Monday said the national economy was in a take-off position due to prudent policies and reforms agenda of the government, and now there was no fear of down-slide.
He stated this while addressing a press conference here at “P” Block Auditorium this afternoon.
Secretary Planning and Development Hassan Nawaz Tarar, Advisor Planning Commission Asif Sheikh, its Spokesman Engineer Aamir Zamir and senior officials of the Planning Division were also present on the occasion.
The minister said that when present government came into power in 2013, the country’s economy was in shambles.
The government initiated reforms for peace and development and as a result the economy, had stabilized during the past three years, and now it was on the path of growth trajectory.
He regretted that during past fifteen years Pakistan was placed in slow growth category in the region from path of high growth while India and Bangladesh attained high growth in the region from low level growth.
Prof. Ahsan Iqbal said in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), the government has focused on two important things of peace and stability and infrastructure development.
He said that due to the steps taken by the government during past two years, peace had been restored in Karachi.
The government, he said, had launched Zerb-e-Azb to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country especially in the tribal areas.
He said entire nation, civil, military, political leadership, intelligence and law enforcement agencies were now on the same page as far as the elimination of terrorism was concerned.
“As a result, we have succeeded in bringing peace to great extent across the country”, he remarked.
The Minister on the occasion reiterated the government’s resolve to bring economic growth to 7 percent in order to generate maximum job opportunities for young population and reduction in poverty.
He said that government of PML-N would give the gift of new Islamabad International airport in the year 2016.
The project, he said, was dormant and the present government revived it, besides expediting development work.
