Higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate will increase chances of employment and help eradicate poverty from the country, said Pakistan Institution of Development Economics (PIDE) Director Dr A R Kamal. Speaking in a PTV programme, he said higher GDP was necessary to bring down the level of poverty, to generate more job opportunities and improve living standard of the people. He expressed hope that GDP growth rate would exceed the set target for current financial year due to governments better and consistent economic polices.
Replying to a question, he said Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) was recorded at about dollars one billion during last financial year.
He said there were bright chances of the volume of FDI being more than expectations in the coming years.
Dr Kamal said reforms put in place during last five years and continuity of the related policies had attracted investors and restored their confidence.
Replying to a question, he opined that recent increase in oil prices would not affect the price of basic food items.
He said the steps recently initiated by the government had stabilised the prices of basic food items in the country.
He said the import of wheat and reduction in excise duty on the import of sugar had stabilised the prices of wheat flour and sugar.
To a question, he said the construction of new big and small water reservoirs was imperative to overcome water shortage in the country.