Government working on nine-point economic reforms agenda: Khar

State Minister for Finance Hina Rabbani Khar on Friday informed the National Assembly that the government is working on nine-point economic reforms agenda to bring economy back on track for achieving GDP growth, which has been targeted at 3.3 percent during the current financial year.
Responding to questions raised by different members, she said that this policy framework encompasses long-term macro-economic stability with desired increase in productivity, besides doing away with the energy crisis and removing infrastructure bottlenecks through public-private partnership.
The government, she told the house, is working on a plan to convert the national savings into an independent organisation to make it more attractive by increasing return on deposits and to enlarge its resource base. She further said that 58,077 defaulters of House Building Finance Corporation (HBFC), with the default amounting Rs 6.4 billion, is adversely affecting the advancing of further loans to the poor masses living without shelter.
Responding to a query, she said that the government collected over Rs 112 billion on account of petroleum development levy during the last financial year. And the amount is mainly being used to make billions of rupees pending payments to oil companies as the commodity was subsidised for the benefit of the public.
Commerce Minister, Makhdoom Amin Fahim informed the house that country's exports in the last three months have stood at $4.4 billion against the imports of $7.5 billion in the same period.
He said that the government has announced various initiatives in the Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF) to boost exports by exploring non-traditional areas. He said that the Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has allowed import of 600,000 tons of urea fertiliser, adding it has also been decided to give subsidy and sell at Rs 750 per 50 kg bag to the growers.
On the occasion, Privatisation Minister, Naveed Qamar informed the house that Benazir Employment Stocks Option (BESO) scheme is being implemented in all government owned organisations under which 12 percent shares are being transferred to the employees of the institutions.
Replying to questions about BlackWater in the country, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that there is no presence of BlackWater, saying Pakistan would not allow any foreign troops to launch any operation against terrorist groups inside Pakistan as its own forces are strong enough to deal with this menace effectively.
However, he said that some personnel of a US security company Dynacop are going to Afghanistan via Pakistan as the company is working in Kabul for security purposes. Moreover, he said these personnel are escorted by security agencies of Pakistan up to Afghan border and they are not allowed to stay in Pakistan. He assured the house that no foreigner would be allowed to carry and display unlicensed weapons, moreover, security agencies have been instructed to take strict action against those foreigners found violating the law.