KARACHI, Pakistan: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said that boosting the exports of the country is the top priority of the federal government.
Talking to a group of leading industrial exporters of the country in Karachi on Thursday, the prime minister said that economic growth and exports are interlinked. He said we can’t afford to ignore our exports.
Nawaz Sharif said that government will give short, medium and long term relief to the exporters so that no segment is missed to achieve our growth targets. He said that exports are future of our economy. He said that our vision is to spread dividends of economic turnaround among all the stakeholders in an equitable manner.
The prime minster said that increased economic activities and ease of doing business will result in reduction in unemployment and alleviation of poverty from the country.
Nawaz Sharif said the improved infrastructure of railway will provide relief to the exporters in terms of reduction in freight charges.
Sharif said that the landmark China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will further complement the benefits of improved railway infrastructure. He said that Special Economic Zones are being established under the CPEC to provide an ideal platform for facilitating the country’s exporters.
The prime minister directed that Ministry of Commerce to make arrangements for duty free import of additional five million bales of cotton in the wake of low cotton exports of the country. He also directed that a proposal in this regard be immediately be presented before the Cabinet for approval.
The exporters lauded the economic turnaround achieved under the leadership of the prime minister and said that historic foreign exchange reserves coupled with improved security situation in the country has reinforced confidence of the exporters.
The exporters said the economic turnaround achieved due to the prudent and investor friendly policies of the present government is indeed commendable.
The exporters apprised the prime minister that they are rendering great efforts for rise in country’s exports in the wake of robust economic growth and support of the government.
The exporters appreciated the decision of importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the government.
The Governor Sindh Ishratul Ibad and CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah were also present during the meeting.
