Islamabad: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that the Udan Pakistan project will prove to be an important milestone in national development to make the country stable, strong and prosperous. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the economic team, the economic targets will be achieved in the next six months.
The Prime Minister said that remittances are expected to reach $35 billion during the current fiscal year, which will be a great honor in the country’s history. The common man is also testifying to the positive economic indicators, improved economic performance and transparency of the last 9 months. We are determined that the new year will bring the promise of progress and prosperity for Pakistan.
Addressing the federal cabinet meeting, he said that economic development can be achieved by promoting exports, there is no other option, the growth rate has stabilized, now we have to move forward.
With the efforts of the economic team, revenues of Rs 72 billion were received in the national treasury. The December revenue target has almost been achieved, which is 97%. Faceless operation has been started at Karachi port, the process of digitization of FBR is being completed.
The inspection time of containers has been reduced by 39% and businessmen have received 89% relief. Smuggling of sugar to Afghanistan is zero percent, due to which we were able to export sugar. There has also been a significant reduction in oil smuggling. Various ministries are implementing rightsizing, e-governance and other measures. Despite protests and sit-ins during the last month, we have achieved success.
We have succeeded in bringing macro stability to the national economy. The common man is also testifying to the transparency and efficiency of the government, no one has dared to bring scandal, which is a testimony to the trustworthiness, honesty and sincerity of all of you. Now we have to move towards the development of the national economy, for which we have to ensure the achievement of our goals,
We have to implement policies, take courage from the successes of 9 months, face difficulties and move forward so that the goals can be achieved by the end of the current financial year. For economic growth, we will focus on exports. We will make Gwadar Airport a center of global trade.
Terrorism has resurfaced, however, our armed forces and law enforcement agencies are making unprecedented sacrifices to control it and are watering Pakistan with their blood, their blood will definitely bring color. Comprehensive measures are being taken to control the problems.
The federal cabinet gave in-principle approval to legislate on amendments to Section 3 (7) of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Reorganization) Act. It recommended the approval of rules and regulations regarding the appointment of Information Group officers as press officers in Pakistani diplomatic missions abroad.
As a result of these rules and regulations, the appointment process can be made more transparent and merit-based. The meeting approved the registration and recognition of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Thatta. In light of the Supreme Court’s decision, it was also approved to reconstitute the committee for determining the prices of life-saving medical devices, and to send the National Food Safety, Animal and Plant Health Authority Bill to Parliament.
The cabinet ratified the decisions taken in the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases on December 17, 2024, but postponed the ratification of the amendments to the Citizenship Act. The decisions taken in the meetings of the Economic Coordination Committee on December 18 and the Cabinet Committee on State-Owned Enterprises on December 24 were also ratified.
The Prime Minister directed that the details of public sector imports from Gwadar Port in the last three months be presented in the next meeting of the federal cabinet. In addition, Shahbaz Sharif expressed satisfaction over the inflation rate reaching an 81-month low and said that it is welcome that the inflation rate has come to 4.1% in December 2024. Macroeconomic stability has been achieved but this is just the beginning. We launched projects like Udan Pakistan.
