President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday said the government would pursue its economic reforms' agenda for macroeconomic stability despite constraints. Talking to Adnan Mazarei, Head of IMF Mission for Pakistan, here at the President House, the President said Pakistan was taking all possible measures to accelerate progress in strengthening and extending the scope of social safety net system under the Benazir Income Support Programme.
He said transparency in various components of BISP was facilitating the government to reach out to the poor and the deserving segments of society to the maximum possible extent. The President also highlighted various economic measures being taken by the government to stabilise the economy, on one hand, and to provide relief to the poor, on the other.
President Zardari said the war against militants had inflicted great loss to Pakistan's frail economy that had been inherited by the current government. He said there was no option left for the government to take a number of unpopular decisions, even at the cost of its popularity, for the stability of economy.
He said the government would adhere to policies of fiscal discipline, critical tax reforms, energy sector reforms, flexible exchange rate and expenditure rationalisation. Head of IMF Mission for Pakistan Adnan Mazarei said the Mission appreciated the measures taken by the government for economic recovery and was aware of the difficulties it faced.
The two-member delegation headed by Adnan Mazarei also included Jaroslaw Wieczorek. From Pakistan's side, Secretary General to the President Salman Faruqui, Advisor Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Secretary to President Malik Asif Hayat, Secretary Finance Salman Siddique were present during the meeting along with Spokesperson to the President former Senator Farhatullah Babar and other senior officials.