US Ambassador, Ms Anne W. Patterson called on Minister for Finance, Syed Naveed Qamar here on Monday. The Ambassador congratulated the minister on assuming new and additional portfolio as Finance Minister, stating that the Finance Minister's crucial assignment concerning country's fiscal policies' formulation.
In view of ongoing budgetary preparations, holds deeper significance for the people of Pakistan. The minister apprised the ambassador of government's pre-budget deliberations in various social and economic development sectors.
He said that government was planning to broad-base its industrial portfolio for improving economic development in the country and the government would like to appreciate USA's infrastructure development based input in pre-identified development sectors of the country.
Finance Minister also briefed Patterson on Board of Investment's professional functions in facilitating foreign investment in Pakistan, especially, in energy sector.
The minister informed the US Ambassador that cabinet already has approved a broad operational framework of the government new energy policy that factually has removed all bottlenecks and focuses quickest possible results in power generation sector.
During the discussion, Finance Minister and US Ambassador exchanged views on latest privatisation initiatives which now are getting processed through the new Privatisation Board. Pakistan is all set to focus on agricultural development by supporting agro-based projects of small and big farmers to attain quickest possible turnaround in food production aiming self sufficiency, the minister concluded.