Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has said that all political parties would be taken into confidence over China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on the return of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from his visit abroad Speaking at a news conference along with Secretary Finance Dr Waqar Masood and Chairman Employs Old-Age Benefit Institution (EOBI) here on Saturday, the Finance Minister said that all the heads of political parties would be given a briefing by Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms on the return of the Prime Minister from his visit abroad.
He added that there must not be any differences on the CPEC, which would make the country an economic tiger in the region. Finance Minister said that discussions on seventh review of Extended Fund Facility (EFF) would be held with the International Monetary Fund Staff level mission from May 1-10 in Dubai. The Minister added that the World Bank (WB) chief would visit Pakistan after the review of the IMF.
He said that he would represent Pakistan at the annual meeting of Asian Development Bank (ADB) at Baku from May 2-6. Dar claimed that the ADB is ready to provide financing for Thar coal project. He said that some countries are against CPEC because the project can change the economic future of the country. The Minister said that the economic corridor project shows confidence in present government by China.
Dar reiterated the need of a ''charter of economy''. The Finance Minister said that the government has decided to increase the pension of the Employees Old-age Benefits Institution pensioners from Rs 3600 to Rs 5250 per month. The Minister said that the increase would be effective from April 1 and pensioners would receive increased pension from May 1 (the Labour Day).
He further stated that an increase in pension would have an impact of Rs 6.67 billion, which would be equally shared by the Federal Government and EOBI. Dar said that the subject of EOBI has been devolved to the provinces after the 18th Amendment of the constitution and the federal government is fully cooperating with the provincial governments in this regard.
The Minister also expressed his deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the earthquake in Nepal and India and stated that the Prime Minister had directed National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to prepare package of relief goods that would be dispatched as soon as clearance of landing is received.