Islamabad (TDI): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed hope that the government would achieve its economic targets within the next six months with its relentless efforts.
He made these remarks while charging the cabinet meeting in Islamabad.
Addressing the meeting PM Shehbaz shared that the foreign remittances had reached a record $15 billion during the first five months of the current fiscal year.
“This figure would rise to $35 billion by the end of the fiscal year.”
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PM Shehbaz wished the cabinet a happy new year and expressed optimism that 2025 will bring growth and prosperity to Pakistan. He also prayed for global progress on the economic, political, and security concerns that would face the world in 2024.
Referring to the recently launched “Uraan Pakistan” initiative, the prime minister called it a significant step for the nation’s future and emphasized the importance of staying focused and working hard to achieve its goals. He praised Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and other officials for their contributions.
He stated that after achieving economic stability, Pakistan had entered a growth phase. He stressed the importance of export-led growth as the only path to sustained economic development.
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The prime minister also commended Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, the State Bank Governor, the Finance Minister, and the FBR Chairman for their efforts in collecting an additional Rs72 billion under the advance-to-tax ratio (ADR), helping the government meet its December 2024 tax revenue target.
Additionally, he highlighted that a $6 million grant from the Bill Gates Foundation had advanced the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) digitization efforts. Early results showed a 39% reduction in container inspection times and an 89% improvement in business facilitation.
He also hailed the efforts of Industries Minister Rana Tanvir Hussain, law enforcement agencies, and Army Chief General Asim Munir for successfully eliminating sugar smuggling into Afghanistan.
The prime minister highlighted that no scandals had occurred during the government’s first nine months, which he said was a testament to their dedication to transparency.
