KARACHI: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said that the government is going towards a major programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Minister expressed these remarks while addressing a ceremony held on the stock market in Karachi. He added the newly elected government would continue talks for microeconomic stability with the International Monetary Fund.
The minister maintained the government would hold dialogues with the IMF on April 14 and 15 in Washington to discuss the new programme. Muhammad Aurangzeb said that a detailed talks on the programme would be held in Pakistan.
He also lauded the caretaker government and said that they worked a lot to improve the country’s economy and due to its efforts the economy would stabilize soon. He admitted that the caretakers’ staff level deal with the IMF was significant for economic stability.
Aurangzeb stated that the stock market has a key role in improving the country’s economy. Looking at developments, it seemed that the stock market is going in the right direction, he remarked.
The highlighted five percent growth in the agricultural sector with high yield of wheat and rice. He said the current government was working fast for reforms in the Federal Board of Revenue.
He acknowledged “tax leakages” and stated it has to be barred. “There are around Rs1.7 trillion worth cases pending with the Federal Board of Revenue. Efforts are being made to decide the pending cases within 90 days,” he said.
The Minister claimed that inflation has reduced and exchange rate is stable due to former caretaker set up’s measures.
