Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar has said that the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) assistance to Pakistan would help boost confidence of local as well as foreign investors. Talking to a private TV channel (Aaj) she said that consultative process for loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was almost in final stage.
Four-day debate was held on IMF loan in the Senate, she said, adding, the discussions for loans from the IMF was almost final and the government would present it in the next meeting of the cabinet for approval.
She said the government has prepared a 9-point programme envisaging macro-economic stabilisation, social protection, focusing on agriculture, industrial competitiveness, human resource development, integrated energy plan, public private partnership, and capital market and administrative reforms. She emphasised that the stabilisation programme should provide adequate protection to the poor and the vulnerable for a sustainable economy.
"We are confident that in a reasonable period of time, we will regain the momentum of economic growth by keeping inflation on a minimum lower side", she added. She said the first priority of the government is to achieve macro-economic stability. She was of the view that IMF's financial assistance will help achieve macro-economic stability.
To a question she said the government is taking measures to enhance country's exports, the government is focusing on improving agricultural sector, a backbone of the economy. The government has announced many incentives for the farmers, she said while expressing the hope that measures will help farmers increase their production.
Minister said the government has given Rs 37 billion Benazir Income Support programme in the limited fiscal space, which will provide Rs 1000 per household for the direct support of the people. Replying to another query she said, "we do not have a deficit of report writing in this country we have a deficit on implementation", she said.