Govt’s economic policies yield positive results: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed satisfaction over the recent report by the Overseas Investors Chambers of Commerce and Industry (OICCI), which highlighted an improvement in foreign investors’ confidence in Pakistan.

He expressed the government’s resolve to provide all possible relief to the people on priority and said the benefits of economic policies and hard work of the economic team had begun to materialise.

According to the Overseas Investors Chambers of Commerce and Industry report, foreign investors’ confidence has increased, business-friendly environment has improved while the international perception has significantly improved from negative 10% to positive 31%, which is highly encouraging, the prime minister said in a press statement issued by the PM Office.

Furthermore, the prime minister pointed out that according to the report, the employment opportunities in Pakistan had increased, the manufacturing sector growth also surged from 2% to 6%, whereas the services sector growth also witnessed a sharp increase from 7% to 30%, marking a significant success.

He also noted that sales of cement, auto sector, fertilizer and petroleum products had also increased. These outcomes are a positive message for global investors, he said, adding that the report reflected Pakistan was a hopeful and trusted destination for investment. Shehbaz emphasized that during the previous few months, the confidence of foreign investors had significantly improved as the country posted record exports and inflow of foreign remittances.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while recognising the provision of accessible healthcare to all citizens regardless as a moral imperative of the government, said that any compromise on health was tantamount to compromising the security, prosperity and development and no risks could be taken.

The prime minister, in his message on Universal Health Coverage Day, annually observed on December 12, reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the advancement of the global momentum towards Universal Health Coverage. He said the government had introduced the Sehat Sahulat Programme.