Dar calls for effective arrangements for holding Saarc meeting

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday asked for making top-class arrangements for the upcoming Saarc Finance Minister’s meeting scheduled to be held on August 25-26 and directed close coordination with relevant ministries and organisations in this regard.

Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting here at the Finance Division to review the performance of the Finance Division. The meeting was briefed in detail by Secretary Finance Dr Waqar Massoud Khan on the implementation of the announcements made in the budget 2016. The participants were also briefed on the overall strategy of the government to reduce the fiscal deficit and to achieve the growth targets.

The meeting also reviewed the domestic and foreign financing of various projects being undertaken.The minister directed that every effort should be made to continue the reforms agenda and to ensure financial discipline in the country.

The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Finance.While Ishaq Dar chaired another meeting here with the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) to review the financial progress on the foreign funded projects.

Secretary EAD Tariq Bajwa briefed the minister on different projects started with financing from the Asian Development Bank, World Bank and other multinational and bilateral donors. He also briefed the minister on projects in the current as well as next year.

The finance minister directed the EAD to follow strict discipline and high standards while dealing with the multinational donors and development partners. He expressed overall satisfaction on the work being done by the EAD.