PM Imran, Karachi businessmen agree to expand tax base

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan and business community of Karachi have agreed to expand tax base and increase the use of Information Technology in the stock market.

This was decided in a meeting between the prime minister and a delegation of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) led by its chairman Sulaiman Mehdi in Karachi. The delegation included officials and stockbrokers of the PSX.

Imran said the government was committed to promote and protect businesses and investment in the country.

He also sought suggestions of businessmen to further improve business environment in the country.

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The PM said vast opportunities of investment were available in Pakistan. He said foreign investors were expressing keen interest to invest in various sectors of the economy.

He said the approach of the government about business and investment was different from the previous governments. He said necessary steps were being taken to bring stability in the market.

The delegation appreciated the fiscal consolidation measures and good economic performance of the government. The delegation assured to support government on fiscal policy. It also apprised him of the issues of stock market and brokers.

The premier approved most of the suggestions given by the delegation.

Earlier, PM Imran Khan arrived in Karachi today on a day-long visit.

He was received at the airport by Governor Sindh Imran Ismail and other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders.

It should be noted that Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday said the government had inherited the trade deficit from the previous governments, which would take some time to rectify.

“It will take some time to remedy the economic deficiencies and the masses will have to bear the discomfort for the time being,” he said.

Correlating the ailing economy with human illness, the foreign minister said it also takes some time to recover after a doctor gives a patient medicinal prescriptions. It does not happen that a doctor gives a patient medicines and he immediately gets well, he said.