PM reviews five-year roadmap for economic progress

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Thursday chaired a high-level review meeting on a five-year roadmap for the economic progress of the country. The roadmap is focused on decreasing inflation, alleviating poverty and providing employment. 

The prime minister said consultations should be held on the plan with stakeholders from different sectors of the economy. Without wasting any time, implementation of projects for economic stability should be ensured, he added. 

The prime minister said a schedule of implementation for the projects should be presented, adding that steps should be taken on a priority basis to speed up progress in agriculture, livestock, information technology, foreign investment and small and medium industries. He said the government would reduce its expenditure and no wastage of public money would be allowed.

He said in the next five years, the country’s economy would be stabilized, putting the country on the path of progress. The PM said tax revenue would be increased with digitalization and technology, while per acre yield in the agriculture sector would also be increased. 

The loss-making government institutions would be privatized on a priority basis, he added. The meeting was informed in detail about the roadmap for economic progress and proposed measures in electricity, agriculture, livestock, exports, small and medium enterprises, taxes, information technology, small and medium enterprises, investment, and privatization. Federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Muhammad Jehanzeb, Ahad Khan Cheema, Dr Musadiq Malik, Minister of State Shiza Fatima Khawaja, Jehanzeb Khan and high-ranking officers attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, Ambassador of Qatar to Pakistan Ali Mubarak Ali Essa Al-Khater called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. The prime minister thanked the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani for their warm messages of felicitations on his re-election as prime minister. He said Pakistan was proud of its close, fraternal relationship with Qatar, with bilateral ties having the potential to grow even stronger and meaningful, particularly in the areas of economy, trade and investment.

He highlighted that the Special Investment Facilitation Council was now functioning as an efficient and productive mechanism to ensure that foreign investors were able to benefit from the investment opportunities in agriculture, I.T., mining and minerals as well as renewable energy. The prime minister lauded Qatar’s contribution to peace efforts in Gaza. He said it was disappointing that violence was continuing in Gaza even during the holy month of Ramazan. The prime minister fondly recalled his official visits to Qatar in August 2022 and March 2023. He also extended an invitation to the Emir of Qatar for an official visit to Pakistan and said the people of Pakistan looked forward to welcoming him soon.