Country moving towards economic stability: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday said the country was moving towards economic stability and directed the federal ministries and provincial governments to promote investment and complete the targets set in a timely manner.

The prime minister gave this direction while presiding over a review meeting on investment and business barriers. Special Assistants Dr Moeed Yousaf, Dr Shahbaz Gill, secretaries of the ministries concerned, Nepra chairman, chief secretaries of the four provinces through video link, and senior officers attended the meeting.

Imran said investors should be facilitated to do business. He said the country was currently moving towards economic stability.

“Investment is the key to maintaining this stability and accelerating economic growth,” he added. Secretary Investment Board briefed the meeting on all the steps taken to remove barriers to investment and business.

These measures include amendments to the law, simplification of tax collection procedures, simplification of the procedure for early receipt of NOCs from other departments, unnecessary and amendments to the old code.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Shaukat Tareen met PM Imran Khan here. Special Assistant for Revenue Waqar Masood was also present in the meeting. Finance minister presented the Pakistan Economic Survey 2020-21 to the prime minister.

Meanwhile, the Ambassador of Qatar in Pakistan Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Faisal Al-Thani Thursday called on Prime Minister Imran Khan here and conveyed him warm and cordial greetings from the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamin bin Hamad Al-Thani.

Reciprocating the greetings, prime minister underscored the importance of further deepening Pakistan-Qatar relations in diverse fields including trade, investments and energy. The prime minister laid emphasis on importance of further deepening of Pak-Qatar relations in diverse fields and appreciated the role of Qatar in hosting a larger number of Pakistani workers.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Coca-Cola Isaac called on Prime Minister Imran Khan. The meeting was also attended by Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Ehsan Mustafa Yerdakul, Minister for Industry Khusro Bakhtiar, and Advisor to the Prime Minister Abdul Razak Dawood.

The delegation included General Manager Coca-Cola Isaac Pakistan Ahmet Karsad Artan, Director Coca-Cola Pakistan and Corporate Affairs Manager. The delegation briefed the prime minister on the Coca-Cola Company's investment in Pakistan and plans to further expand this investment in the future.