ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has said that the federal government has saved Rs 1.68 billion in power projects as it believes in good governance, accountability and transparency.
In his address at national workshop on Pakistan’s national action plan for open government partnership (OGP) in Islamabad on Thursday, the minister said that the open government partnership provides policy mechanism, and the workshop on it helps the parties to decide future strategies.
Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan’s Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) joining will be a milestone in curbing tax evasion.
The minister said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led federal government is taking concrete steps for good governance. He said that the process of accountability and transparency is being ensured in the government offices.
The finance minister said that Pakistan has acted upon the open government policy forum’s conditions and voluntarily sought its membership.
The minister said that the government is publishing tax dairies since three years and fourth directory is soon to be published.
Moreover, he said that Pakistan’s 5.3 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate has been at its highest level. He said that the Country’s economy has now surpassed $300 billion for the first time in the history.
Dar said that per capita income has increased by 22 percent over the last four years and inflation has come down from over 12 in 2013 to 4.3 percent. He said that fiscal deficit, which stood at staggering 8.2 percent in 2013, has reduced to 4.6 percent last year.
Ishaq Dar also pointed out that there has been 73 percent growth in tax collection during the last four years.
The minister said that Pakistan will also become member of anti-corruption forum.
