ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed to take Pakistan's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 15 percent in next five years.

Chairing meeting at Ministry of Finance, PM Shehbaz directed that comprehensive plan for an increase in revenue should be formed without putting burden on common man.

He said government would strengthen provinces by handing over all relevant ministries and departments to provinces, under 18th constitutional amendment.

He said that expenditure would be reduced to decrease fiscal deficit. PM Shehbaz directed to speed up process of reforms and privatisation of state-owned institutions especially those which were running in losses.

He said public private partnership should be initiated with private operators to improve services at all big airports of country.

He said government is fully focused on gradually decreasing public debt, pension and subsidy reforms and reforms and privatisation of state-owned entities.

He directed to prepare plan in order to reduce external debt. He said that employing services of foreign specialists is necessary to achieve economic advancement.

Meeting was briefed on current account, remittances, foreign exchange reserves, taxes, revenue and budget deficit.

Finance Ministers Muhammad Aurangzeb, other ministers including Ahad Khan Cheema, Dr Musadiq Malik, Ahsan Iqbal, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Jehanzeb Khan, Coordinator of Prime Minister Rana Ihsaan Afzal and relevant officers also attended meeting.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 05 2024

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